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Blackberry variety Giant can be called a masterpiece of horticultural culture and berry selection - judge for yourself, both remontant, and thornless, and berries, the size of a palm, and yield - up to 35 kg per bush. Whether such a thing can actually exist is up to you to think and decide. Many reviews and descriptions of the Gigant remontant blackberry variety are choked with delight in describing the unique advantages of this berry. This article contains all the real facts related to the Gigant blackberry that we managed to get, and a comparative study of gardeners' reviews and the statements of managers of a trading company that sells seedlings of this variety in Russia.
Breeding history
Repaired blackberry varieties appeared relatively recently, at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. Basically, American scientists from the state of Arkansas were engaged in their selection, and they managed to get many interesting varieties that are capable of producing crops twice a year: on last year's branches and annual shoots.
The remontant blackberry varieties have many advantages - and one of the main ones is that absolutely all shoots can be cut out before winter. This makes it possible not to worry too much about the winter hardiness of the southern blackberry berry and to grow it even in regions with severe winters (at -40 ° C and below).
In addition, complete pruning of all shoots and later development and fruiting periods severely limit the possibilities of potential pests and pathogens of blackberries. therefore repairing blackberry, like raspberries, are practically not susceptible to any misfortunes and, accordingly, do not need processing, especially with chemicals, which allows you to get an absolutely healthy and harmless berry to humans.
Unfortunately, breeding has not yet reached such achievements. All of them are distinguished by thorny shoots, which, of course, makes it difficult to pick berries.
In Russia, you can find only one single seller, he is also a supplier of blackberry seedlings Gigant (LLC "Becker Bis"). It is on the website of this agricultural company in the catalog of plants that you can see the goods under the article 8018 Blackberry remontant Gigant. And right there, side by side in small letters in English is written Blackberry thornless Giant, which means blackberry thornless Giant.
Unfortunately, the supplier company does not indicate any data on the origin of this variety, but the direct question of the buyer in the reviews: whose selection of the Giant blackberry variety is silent.
Of course, it is useless to look for this variety in the State Register of Russia, however, this is the fate of most modern blackberry varieties of foreign origin.
Description of berry culture
Blackberry Giant, as follows from the description of the culture presented on the website of the supplier of its seedlings, can grow in height from 1.5 to 2.5 meters. Shoots are flexible, so it can and should be grown on trellises, where it can also be used as decoration. Because, thanks to the remontability, according to the manufacturer's assurances, the flowering period of the Gigant blackberry lasts from June to September.
It is worth noting here that in most regions of Russia there is no point in growing remontant blackberries, leaving shoots for the winter without pruning, since in this case it will have to be covered for the winter, and there will be more problems with pests and diseases. But in this case, flowering of annual shoots should begin no earlier than July-August.
And even in the southern regions, if you leave last year's shoots to winter to get the first early harvests, then the blackberry bushes are unlikely to bloom continuously from June to September. In remontant varieties, two pronounced waves of flowering and fruiting are usually observed, with a break between them.
According to the manufacturer-seller, the fruiting period of the remontant blackberry Gigant lasts from July to September.
The supplier does not indicate any data on the type of shoot growth (creeping or erect).
Berries
The berries of the Giant blackberry are truly unique. Their shape is at the same time elongated and slightly rounded, reminiscent of thumbs on a hand. Nutritional properties at the level of the most outstanding varieties, taste - sweet and sour, with the aroma inherent in blackberries. The color of ripe berries is deep black.
But the most important thing is, of course, the size of the berries. It is claimed that they reach a length of 6 cm, and one such berry can weigh up to 20-23 grams. This is really a giant!
Characteristic
The repairing variety of blackberry Gigant is distinguished by the following characteristics.
Main advantages
According to the supplier of blackberry seedlings Gigant, the variety has many advantages.
- It is very winter-hardy - withstands up to -30 ° СAttention! Repaired blackberry varieties, if completely cut off before winter, can withstand lower temperatures, and without much cover.
- The Giant variety is unpretentious in care, does not require special special measures of protection
- Berries store well and are fairly easy to transport
- You can collect two harvests of berries per season
Yield indicators
But the most impressive statement of the giant blackberry supplier is its yield. It is claimed that up to 35 kg of fruit can be obtained from one bush of this variety. No further details are given, but for comparison, some of the highest yielding blackberry varieties yield a maximum of about 15-20 kg of berries per bush.
Scope of berries
Berries of the Gigant variety can be used both fresh, to decorate festive dishes, and for a variety of homemade preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The merits of the Giant Blackberry have already been listed above. Among the shortcomings, it can only be noted that it is bad for the lack of moisture in the soil and for heavy, dense soils.
Reproduction methods
The supplier does not say anything in the description of the Gigant blackberry variety about the root growth, so it is unclear whether this, the most affordable way of propagating the berry, can be used in this case.
In any case, new blackberry plants, as a rule, are obtained by cuttings or by rooting from the top.
Landing rules
In general, the planting of the Gigant blackberry variety does not differ dramatically from the planting of other varieties of this berry culture.
Recommended timing
It is recommended to plant Gigant blackberry seedlings between March and November. In principle, if we are talking about seedlings with a closed root system, then these terms are fully justified. But in the southern regions, it is still advisable to time the planting of seedlings to the spring or autumn period, since the sun and high temperatures in summer can greatly worsen the survival rate of seedlings.
Choosing the right place
It is argued that Gigant blackberries are best planted in a sunny location. But again, in the southern regions, blackberries grown in the sun can get sunburn on both berries and leaves.
Soil preparation
Blackberries of any variety prefer breathable, light soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Soils with a high content of limestone can be harmful to shrubs, as they can cause chlorosis on the leaves - yellowing.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
When choosing seedlings, it is necessary first of all to take into account the condition of the roots, the length of which should be at least 15 cm, and the root branches themselves should be about two to four. At the same time, the height of the aboveground part of the bushes should be at least 40 cm. Before planting, it is advisable to soak the seedlings of the Gigant variety for prophylaxis in a 0.6% solution of Aktara with the addition of tobacco dust.
Algorithm and scheme of landing
Blackberry seedlings Gigant are planted in pre-dug holes, to a depth of about 20-30 cm. The distance between seedlings during planting is recommended to be equal to 1-1.2 meters. Since this culture is curly, it is immediately necessary to provide for the organization of the trellis and tie the shoots to it.
Follow-up care of the culture
The Giant Blackberry is said to be easy to clean.
Necessary activities
The most important thing in caring for a blackberry is regular and fairly abundant watering. However, it is also impossible to overdo it here - the berry cannot stand waterlogging.
Top dressing is carried out several times per season. In the spring, a complex fertilizer is applied, and in the summer, the feeding of blackberries is carried out mainly due to the introduction of phosphorus and potash fertilizers.
Pruning bushes
When pruning remontant varieties, the most important thing is to understand what you want from the bushes - either one, but abundant and reliable harvest in late summer, or several harvest waves, starting in June. As noted earlier, in the second case, you will have to additionally take care of sheltering the blackberry for the winter and protecting it from enemies, in the face of parasites.
In the first case, all blackberry shoots are simply cut in late autumn at the level of winter. If you live in a region with severe winters, it is advisable to additionally cover the root zone with hay or sawdust.
In the second case, it is not necessary to do pruning before winter, and only the shoots of the second year are cut, preferably in the summer, immediately after the end of fruiting.
Preparing for winter
In the second case, the remaining shoots must be removed from the trellises and bent to the ground, then overlaid with hay or sawdust and covered with non-woven material, such as lutrasil, on top.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Problem type | What can be done |
Chlorosis of leaves of non-infectious origin | Immediately after the snow melts, feed the bushes with a complex of fertilizers with a full set of trace elements |
Aphids, mites, flower beetles and other pests | In autumn, shed soil under the bushes with Aktara solution, in early spring, spray twice with Fitoverm |
Fungal diseases | When the kidneys open, treat the blackberries with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture |
Testimonials
On the website of the company of the supplier of blackberry seedlings Giant, reviews about this variety are mostly enthusiastic. True, the overwhelming majority of gardeners only managed to get seedlings and plant them. The first harvest of blackberries after planting should be expected, according to the managers of the company themselves, in about 2-3 years. There are those who have not only tasted the berries, but also managed to make money on them (after all, the harvest reaches 35 kg per bush), but these are found in a single copy. On the other hand, some of the managers 'answers to gardeners' questions are contradictory. For example, just now (2017-11-02 in Veronica's answer) they wrote about the fact that there are no remontant and prickly varieties of blackberries at the same time, and already a few months later (2018-02-16 in Elena's answer) they answer about the aforementioned blackberry variety, that he is studless.
On other forums of gardeners, reviews about seedlings from this company, and, in particular, about the Giant blackberry are not at all encouraging.Semi-dried plants are sent to customers, they are changed, but they still do not take root. But even if they survive, they turn out to be completely different from what was written on the label.
Conclusion
Blackberry Giant, if it exists, of course, is a truly fantastic variety in many of its characteristics: in terms of the size of berries, and in terms of yield, and in terms of winter hardiness, and in terms of ease of care. It seems that all the most attractive blackberry traits are collected in one variety. In nature, there is rarely such a clear imbalance, albeit positive properties. And the most suspicious moment is that with all the variety of modern choices, no one else offers this variety for sale. He also does not meet abroad. So the choice is yours - to buy or not to buy, to plant or not to plant.
I wrote out a blackberry Giant, I'll see what happens. I have a thornless blackberry Polar has time to bear fruit in Siberia, but the summer is shorter and not all ripen and the taste is good with a wine flavor