Blackberries Thornfrey is loved by many gardeners for excellent taste, unpretentiousness and high productivity. This variety is grown both in summer cottages and on farmland.
History of Thornfrey Blackberry Variety
Blackberry Thornfrey was bred in the USA in 1966. It is the result of a selection made by Dr. Scott. The name of the variety can be literally translated as "free of thorns", which is fully true.
Thornfree blackberries instantly gained popularity in their homeland and quickly spread throughout the world, including growing in Russia. Even about 15 years ago in our latitudes there were no other non-studded varieties, which is probably why it still often becomes a pioneer in the garden plots of beginner summer residents.
Thornfrey's blackberries are large and oval
Since 2006, Blackberry Thornfrey has been included in the Russian State Register and is cultivated on an industrial scale.
Grade description
Thornfrey is a dessert variety that ripens late and is a powerful, half-growing bush. Shoots are thick, rounded and have no spikes. Lateral branches without wax coating and with some pubescence. Fruiting begins in the second year of escape. Thornfrey blackberry leaves are large, double-serrated, slightly pubescent, dark green in color.
The berries are large, black, regular oval, suitable for freezing. They have large drupes and weak pubescence. The tasting score of berries at one time was as high as possible. Now experts evaluate Thornfrey berries at 4 points fresh, and after processing give them 3 points.
The berries retain their gloss until maturity. Having reached maximum ripeness, they become opaque, sweet, acquire a noticeable aroma, but their consistency becomes less dense, so blackberries are harvested in a state of technical maturity. At this time, the berries are still sour and practically do not smell, but they retain their shape perfectly.
With proper care from one blackberry bush, you can collect 2 buckets of berries
Blackberry Thornfrey is very fruitful. With proper care, plenty of sunlight and moisture from one bush collect up to 20 kilograms of berries per season.
Table: Thornfrey Blackberry Variety Feature
| Ripening time | Aug. Sept |
| Average yield | 77.8 kg / ha |
| Berry weight | 4.5-5.0 g. |
| Bush height | 3-5 m |
| Grade Features | Resistant to drought and heat. Low frost resistance |
| Pests | Mice weevils |
| Disease | Gray rot of berries, leaf chlorosis |
Features of planting and growing
Thornfree blackberry bushes are planted at a distance of 1.5-2 meters. There are two ways to form them:
- vertical - then between the rows, experts advise to leave a distance of 2.5-3.0 m;
- horizontal - allows you to save space and plant bushes closer to each other.
In any case, the blackberry needs fixing. Trellises up to 2.5 m high are suitable for him, on which three to four rows of wire are stretched.
Thornfrey Blackberry Care
This blackberry variety is responsive to the application of organic fertilizers. She responds well to humus, ash, compost. The addition of urea, a potassium complex, and nitroammophoska gives very good results for the formation of ovaries.
For a better crop, it is recommended to mulch the soil under Thornfrey's blackberry. Great for this:
- agrofibre;
- vegetable raw materials - straw, freshly cut grass, crushed bark, etc.
- cardboard, fiberboard trim, etc.
Video: Thornfrey's shipless blackberry
During the ripening period, watering is very useful, especially if the summer is hot. At the same time, excessive wetting of the earth, which can cause rotting of the roots, should be avoided. It is usually enough to pour Thornfrey blackberries once a week up to 20 liters of water under the bush. The need for watering is determined by the state of the mulching layer, if it is wet - it is too early to water, it has begun to dry - it's time.
Bush formation
Opinions of experts about pruning a blackberry and forming a bush vary. Some believe that to get the greatest yield, strict regulation of the length of the shoots is necessary.
To increase productivity, experts advise forming a bush by pruning the branches that ploskonos this year
Others, on the contrary, believe that productivity is better increased by increasing the volume of the bush. However, as practice shows, in this matter it is necessary to take into account the factors of a particular landing:
- area of the plot allotted for blackberries;
- number of bushes;
- personal preferences.
In order to form a fan bush, the fruiting branches of the blackberry are woven, laying one on top of the other. At the same time, new shoots are left to grow freely, only orienting them in the right direction.
If the method of growing Thornfrey blackberries with short cropping is chosen, then when the shoot reaches the desired length, it is cut with a pruner. This stimulates the growth of the lateral stems, which are also pruned later.
In any case, experienced gardeners recommend cutting the shoots that bear fruit this year. This significantly increases productivity.
Video: pruning a blackberry bush
Other wisdom used in the cultivation of blackberry Thornfrey
The declared frost resistance of blackberry varieties Thornfrey does not exceed 15-20 degrees Celsius. This means that practically throughout the entire territory of our country it is necessary to shelter the plant for the winter.
Various materials can be selected for the winter shelter of the blackberry
To shelter a blackberry, it is not recommended to use a film, it is better to use:
- straw;
- lapnik;
- agrofibre;
- slate;
- insulation mats.
When choosing material for shelter, consider the presence of rodents that like to feast on fresh roots and natural heaters. If such pests are present, give preference to artificial materials.
Thornfrey Blackberry Reviews
Despite the fact that the Blackberry Thornfrey variety was bred more than half a century ago, it is still quite competitive and very popular. Most of the farmers leave positive feedback about him.
The variety differs from other blackberry varieties by the absence of thorns, unpretentiousness and very high productivity, large berry size. It turns out that blackberries are more healthy than raspberries! The variety was advised to me, a beginner gardener, as an "unkillable". A sapling with a closed root system, planted in early summer, by the fall gave 6 five-meter semi-rigid shoots, which we tied to a wire trellis, lifting above the ground. They removed it for the winter, turned it into a wide ring, laid it on the boards and covered it. In spring, the overwintered lashes were raised again to the trellis - blossomed along the entire length of the shoots with beautiful pink tassels. There were a lot of flowers. The resulting berry brushes did not keep up at the same time, it was necessary to make a selective collection. Ripe berries are very sweet, fragrant, slightly tart and can easily be separated from the stem, transportable, the size of a phalanx of a finger. If you give it to ripen, it becomes watery and sprawls ... Rip from the beginning of August to frosts ... From the berries you get very tasty jelly, liquor, stewed fruit ... Over the summer new shoots grow that we leave for the winter, and cut off the offspring. And that’s it. Wonderful berry and a wonderful variety.
slanasa//otzovik.com/review_4120920.html
The berries in this variety are very tasty, their size can reach a length of up to three centimeters. This blackberry is best grown in the southern regions of the country, it can withstand not very large frosts down to -23 ° C.
wheat//agro-forum.net/threads/78/
I want to note that I received the crop without much care (all the forces were thrown into the vineyard). For the winter they covered with straw - the blackberry did not freeze, but was decently decayed by mice. This year they covered it with polypropylene bags on frames and put poison in plastic bottles, spring will come - we'll see. Watering - once a month (in such a heat!), Aisles tinned (mowed once a month), trellis - thread, stretched between meter pegs. Of course, I did not get a huge harvest and very large berries, but it was enough to eat and preserve. Naturally, with good care, the harvest will be larger and the berry is larger and sweeter, but those with a time limit or a remote land will also not be left without a harvest.
Gagina Julia//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=3762
By growing blackberries of the Thornfrey variety, you can annually get a rich harvest without much work and effort. It is enough to plant bushes in a lighted place, trim old branches in time, apply fertilizer and water if necessary.
