Blackberry Agavam: variety description, cultivation guide

The article presents the blackberry Agave: description of the variety, detailed recommendations for growing, reproduction.

At the moment, about 400 varieties of cultivated blackberries are known. This berry is large and sweet, which distinguishes it from the one that lives in the wild. She may lack thorns and may belong to remontant varieties. However, varieties grown in garden plots, unlike wild ones, need shelter for the period of winter cold and a little, but high-quality care. If the summer resident has little time to visit his site, then it will not be easy to grow blackberries belonging to the elite varieties. But, in this case, you can resort to an alternative, because there are very unpretentious varieties that calmly endure all the vagaries of nature and bring large yields.

In full, it may be that not everyone will consider the Agavam blackberry variety worthy of their time, but those who once planted it in their garden claim that they do not want to part with it. What is the reason? The size of the berries is small, new modern varieties are much better in taste, covered with large, curved and incredibly sharp thorns. Very fast growth of the growth, which is very difficult to get rid of. Then what secret does the blackberry Agave keep? Here we will tell you about the secrets of this variety.

Blackberry Agavam: origin of the variety and further distribution

Blackberry Agavam: photo

Blackberry Agawam (Agawam) was bred in the middle of the 19th century in the United States. For its breeding, varieties related to wild North American species were used, for which there is no information. According to some sources, it is known that this species has existed since the 60s of the 18th century.
Since the 21st century, the Agavam blackberry variety has been officially entered into the State Register and allowed for cultivation throughout Russia.

When the Agavam variety was first created, it was considered large and very tasty. It was actively used for cultivation on an industrial scale and for a century, or a little less, it was one of the leaders in distribution in Europe and the American continent.

Blackberry Agavam: variety description and characteristics

Blackberry Agavam: photo

Agave is a powerful, compact shrub with thick pentahedral shoots whose tops are drooping and covered with many medium-sized brown, curved thorns, but incredibly sharp and very tough. At a young age, the branches are colored green, but by the end of the active period, they begin to darken, the shoots of the second year of life become brown.

A characteristic feature of the leaves for the Agavam blackberry variety is that they all come out of one point. Their surface is corrugated and densely pubescent, the tip is strongly narrowed. The veins located in the center of the inner side of the leaf are covered with small spines in the form of needles. The leaves are medium in size, painted green and sit very firmly on the branches, due to which, even in winter, its leaves often remain in place.

Shoot formation occurs at an average rate, but shoots are formed quickly and in large quantities. It is quite difficult to cope with it, even the installation of a curb, slate laid on the ground and metal sheets do not help to stop it.

All fruits are formed on last year's increments.

The size of slightly pubescent fruits in the Agavam variety is average and does not exceed 5 grams. They are black in color, their shape can be oval or resemble a truncated cone. The berry is located on the stalk, not very long and covered with thorns. In each cluster, from 15 to 20 fruits are formed, which mature at different times.

Ripe berry has a sweet and sour taste, subtle aroma, dense surface, which allows them to maintain their appearance during transportation. If the berries are not picked on time and they overripe, they will lose their elasticity, acquire a watery and fresh taste. When technical ripeness is reached, they smell like grass, so the harvest must take place on time. This is probably the reason for such a low tasting score of 3.5 points.

Gardeners speak differently about the variety. Some consider it a trash variety and are sure that you can safely change it to varieties that bring yields of larger, sweeter berries and which lack thorns. Another part of the gardeners are sure that collecting Agave at the right time, there will be no need to change it to some other non-studded, but capricious novelties.

It is worth recalling that the Agave variety was bred one and a half hundred years ago and this does not prevent industrialists from still planting them in their fields. And also gardeners are in no hurry to say goodbye to him and remove him from their garden.

Blackberry, Agavam variety: main advantages

Blackberry varieties Agavam: photo

Blackberry Agavam - this variety is highly resistant to frost. It does not require any shelters on the territory of Ukraine, Belarus or in the middle latitudes of our country. Scientists are actively using Agaves to create new varieties, so that its frost resistance is transferred to modern species. He is not afraid of frosts down to -30 degrees for a short period. He does not freeze flower buds, and if this happens, then in small quantities and quite rarely.

As for the intense heat, the variety is not tolerant to it due to the fact that the fruits are baked. In the south of the country, for growing blackberries, it is better for Agaves to choose partial shade, which will not affect the quantity and quality of the crop. Blackberries have Medium resistance to dry periods, but this does not mean that the plant can be safely left without moisture. In order for the yield to be good, regular watering must be carried out. If you do not pay the necessary attention to moisturizing, then in gratitude you can get small berries.

Agave can grow in any type of soil, unlike other varieties. Also neutral soils are suitable for her.

The berry is not afraid of long-term transportation, even if left on the bush until fully ripe. If the berry is overripe, then it can be used only for processing, while the taste will sharply decrease. It is quite simple to care for the variety, however, they interfere, it is done with sharp, curved thorns, which interfere with harvesting and plucking branches in regions with severe winters.

As for everything else, it is a completely undemanding variety. This is probably due to the fact that he has a closely related relationship with the wild blackberry, which does not need any care.

Flowering, yield and fruiting

Flowering begins in May. In the south of the country, the blooming of buds consisting of white petals occurs a week, or a little more, earlier than in the northern regions. When the bush begins to bloom, it is covered with many snow-white flowers that look like an elegant bedspread.
The berries ripen at different times, but most of them are ready for picking already in the second week of August.

On average, about 100 centners can be harvested from 1 hectare. Considering that 30 centners are considered good indicators, we can safely say that this plant is among the best in terms of yield.Such a high yield can be achieved due to the shade tolerance of the plant, which allows them to be planted tightly to each other. However, it is worth noting that the absolute shadow for blackberries is completely inappropriate.

One bush brings from 5 to 15 kg. fruits. The bush bears fruit for some time. It is best to start harvesting when they are fully ripe, because if harvested sooner or later, their taste will be quite mediocre.

How can you consume agave fruit

Hedgehog Agavan can be eaten fresh, in the form of jam or jam, or can be frozen. Rumor has it that by using Agavan berries it is possible to make jam with the best taste.

Resistance to diseases, pests, prevention

In blackberry Agave, resistance to various diseases and pests is no different from the resistance of other varieties. If you are late in harvesting, then the plant can get sick with gray rot.

If you plant blackberry bushes away from raspberries, strawberries and nightshade crops, then it will not suffer from diseases at all or extremely rarely. It is better to keep the distance at 50 meters.

In the spring and autumn, preventive measures can be taken and plants can be treated with preparations containing copper.

Pros and cons

Of course, the varieties that have appeared recently do not have thorns, they have a stronger aroma and a sweet taste. The appearance of the variety is also inferior to, for example, Black Magic, Triple Root or Karaka Black. However, it also has significant advantages:

• Rapid growth of the bush;
• Possesses high resistance to frost and does not require shelter even in the Moscow region;
• Easy to care for due to the unpretentiousness of the variety;
• We tolerate high humidity;
• Can grow in partial shade;
• Can grow on any type of soil;
• Possesses good resistance to diseases and harmful insects;
• Extended fruiting;
• Does not require replanting and brings excellent yields for 15 years or more;
• Time-tested;
• Produces high yields consistently.

As for disadvantages, then these include:

• Thorns on shoots and leaves;
• Loss of taste if the berries are picked a little earlier than fully ripe or a little later;
• Root shoots that grow very quickly and are difficult to cope with;
• It is quite difficult to cover for the period of cold weather;
• Small berries.

Blackberry propagation

Reproduction of an unpretentious variety is rather poorly carried out with the help of layering and pulping. The reason is not associated with thick, erect branches, which do not bend well to the surface of the earth, but with their poor rooting. Of ten, only one is able to take root. But the growth reproduces in such quantity that it is difficult to understand where to put it.

Planting blackberries of the Agavam variety is the same way as for other varieties. But here you can even allow yourself, deviate from the general rules, on the plant, this will not affect in any way, which, for example, an elite blackberry could not bear.

Blackberry Agavam: planting

In the southern territory, planting of Agavam is carried out in the autumn period, at least 30 days before the onset of winter cold. In all other areas, this procedure is carried out in the spring after warming up the earth. In this case, the plant will have enough time to adapt, which means that the wintering will go well.

Here it is, a big plus for growing this particular variety, because with the choice of a place for it, the situation is much simpler than with blackberries of other varieties. Any area, even in a lowland, is suitable for it, with the exception of swampy areas and full shade.

The soil can be low acidity and neutral. If there is a possibility of buying red peat, then this will be a big plus for the plant and will help to avoid such a disease as chlorosis.

Blackberries of this variety will be able to develop well and bear fruit in partial shade, which brings it closer to wild relatives living in the undergrowth in the shade of trees.In the southern regions, this will be especially important and will protect the berry from burning out. In the north of the country, the site should be well lit by the sun and protected from the winds.

Site preparation rules

When preparing the soil and planting, you must follow the rules, because this will greatly facilitate the care of the plant in the future. The planting hole should go 50 centimeters deep into the ground and have the same diameter. The earth from the dug out of the hole must be mixed with humus (1 bucket), with potassium (50 gr.), And with phosphorus (150 gr.). With high soil density, a little sand should be added. In case of high acidity, lime must be added. Carbonate soil must be saturated with organic matter. In soil with a high alkali content or neutral, a little red peat should be added. After adding additional ingredients, you need to mix everything well, pour 2/3 into the hole and fill it with water.

Purchase

When buying an Agave blackberry seedling, you need to look at it for damage, pay attention to the development of the root system, which should be good, and the smell, which should resemble fresh soil.
To date, the Agavam blackberry variety is not in great demand, so it can be stuck in the store. Pay attention to the flexibility of the Agave blackberry seedlings, which should be good, to cracks and wrinkles, they should not be at all.

Before planting, water the Agave blackberry seedling well and dip the roots into the water.

How to plant

For single bushes, the distance between them should be 2 meters, and when planting with a large number of plants, they can be placed a meter or one and a half from each other. In this case, the distance between the rows should be at least 2 meters.

If the area allows, then it is better not to thicken the plantings, this will facilitate care, which is already interfered with by sharp thorns.
On the hole, in the center, a small hill is made on which a bush is planted. In this case, the roots must be carefully straightened and hung on this mound. Please note that the root collar should go deep into the ground by one and a half centimeters. After, you need to fill them with an earthen mixture prepared in advance. Next, you need to carefully tamp the soil and water using one bucket of water per bush. In order for moisture to remain in the soil longer, a layer of humus mulch must be applied.

Blackberry Agavam: variety care

Blackberry Agavam, completely easy to grow, if not for the many thorns on the shoots and leaves.

Garter plants

Despite the fact that the variety has three-meter, thick and erect shoots, it still needs to be tied up. For fruiting lashes, horizontal supports must be used, to which they will be attached at a distance of 25 centimeters on one side. Young growths are tied up in the same way, only on the other side. This will make harvesting easier.

For a good harvest, you need:

• Water the plant regularly, because if the bush lacks water, then its fruits will become small;
• Carry out pruning of Agave blackberries, removing all shoots that have a dry appearance and that have ceased to bear fruit. Leaving them, protecting our hands from injury, we significantly reduce the yield;
• You should know that in the North of the country, if you plant a plant in the shade, then the harvest will be less than if you do it in the southern regions;
• Apply fertilizers.

Watering for Agavama is very important and should be done on a regular basis. Once the plant is planted, it must be watered 2 times a week, then when the earth dries out.

With the onset of spring, it is necessary to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, when the buds begin to open, top dressing should consist of a complex of minerals, as soon as the crop is harvested, fertilizers based on potassium should be applied.

In case of intense heat, frequent rains, cool summers, it is recommended to spray the plants with epinom and zircon every 14 days, changing them.

In the spring and autumn, it is necessary to loosen the soil.When the plant is blooming and flowering, a layer of peat, humus or hay mulch can be applied instead. This will protect the root system from the scorching sun, limit weed growth and prevent moisture from evaporating quickly.

Blackberry Agave: Variety pruning

Regardless of whether the plant will take shelter for the period of winter cold or not, all shoots that have finished fruiting must be cut to the very base. If it is impossible to do this during the fall, you must do it with the arrival of spring. This procedure will significantly increase the yield.

During the first three years of the plant's life, shaping pruning of blackberries to Agaves can be omitted, since only starting from the fourth year, active growth of shoots begins. During this pruning of blackberries, Agaves should only be removed from shoots that have signs of disease, damage, dried up and old.
On a bush at this age, you can leave 6 healthy and strong shoots for the formation of fruits. With the growth of shoots, tweezers are carried out. Thanks to this, the branching will be better and more fruit clusters will appear.

This variety differs from others in its undergrowth, which grows actively and in large quantities. Placing a curb, slate, or metal sheets on the ground will not do this. He is omnipresent and he is not afraid of any obstacles. If you did not want the appearance of new Agave blackberry seedlings, then you must constantly cut it to the very base.

It is important to know that using a lawn mower will not be enough, if you leave at least a small scion, it will be perceived as a pinch and growth will go with renewed vigor.

Blackberry Agavam: a description of pre-winter preparation

In the Middle Lane and in the south of our country, blackberries do not require shelter. If, these are the northern regions, where you cannot do without shelter, then you should think about growing other varieties. If there were an Agavama without thorns, then despite the powerful erect shoots, it would be possible to provide her with shelter. The fact is that it is quite difficult to cover strong shoots covered with thorns, which are difficult to bend at the same time. Maybe this makes no sense, given that among 400 varieties, you can find the right one for a particular region.

You can make a shelter right on the trellis. First, you need to sprinkle the roots of the bush with earth, and then cover the shoots with burlap and agrofibre, which are tied to the lattice structure. It is very important that the shelter does not fly off or become covered with a layer of ice.

Outcome

Despite the fact that Agavam is one of the first cultivated varieties, it has many advantages that modern varieties cannot boast. Due to the close relationship with wild species, it has strong immunity and is considered the healthiest. The taste of the berries is good, the main thing is to collect them at the right time. Probably for this reason, experienced gardeners are very difficult to convince to part with a variety that has already been tested by time.

Blackberry Agavam: video about the variety