Blackberry Kiova

Blackberries, when large juicy fruits cover its bush, it is very difficult to pass by without picking them. However, when deciding to plant a blackberry in your garden, you should find out about the characteristics of a variety such as Kiova blackberry.

Blackberry Kiova: variety description and characteristics

Photo of blackberry Kiova

The Kiowa blackberry variety was bred 20 years ago by a breeder at the University of Arkansas. In order to obtain this new blackberry variety, which certainly deserves a lot of attention, two experimental varieties were crossed. The name was given in honor of an Indian tribe.

Blackberry Kiova has fruits, the fruits of which are the largest in comparison with other varieties. This is probably the reason for such a great popularity.

Kiova is a variety of late-ripening large-fruited blackberries. It has upright, erect shoots whose height rarely exceeds one and a half meters. The branches are covered with a large number of emerald leaves, which, like the branches, are covered with many sharp thorns. When flowering begins, the bush becomes covered with snow-white or pinkish inflorescences.

It is important to know that the Kiova blackberry variety is not drought tolerant, but with an excess of applied liquid, it can start to hurt.

When the fruits of the Kiowa blackberry are fully ripe, they take on a glossy black color. On average, one berry weighs 13 grams, but there are also those whose weight reaches 20 grams. The shape of the fruit is oblong, rounded, the taste is sweet, which is diluted by a slight sourness. The seed size is average. It is worth noting that Kiova blackberries have an amazing aroma that reminds of wild relatives.

In order to create this variety, breeders had to work hard, because it has almost one virtues:

• Blackberry Kiova is a frost-resistant bush that can grow at temperatures of -23 degrees. However, if you are engaged in its cultivation in the central part of Russia, then you should not risk it and it is better to use a shelter for the period of the winter months. The main thing is to be careful with this, and as a result, the kidneys did not sop.
• Kiova blackberries have good transport stability due to the high density of the berries, despite their juiciness. Storage, in which the presentation and taste will not deteriorate, is possible for several days.

Kiowa begins to bloom quite late, fruit ripening occurs in the middle of summer. However, the timing may differ depending on the region of cultivation.

It is important to know that blackberries are not tolerant of liquid stagnation in the soil, this leads to the fact that rot begins to appear on the root system.

Productivity and fruiting of Kiova blackberries

Kiova bears fruit for a long time, about one and a half months. Fruit taste and size remain normal until the end of the season. This is a high-yielding variety, up to 6 tons of berries can be harvested from one hectare. However, it should be remembered that the bush will delight you with a high yield, if you pay due attention to it, caring for and observing agrotechnical rules.

How you can use Kiova blackberries

Blackberry Kiova can be eaten fresh and made from it excellent preparations for the winter. Jam, preserves, compote and even liqueur, these berries are excellent. This berry is also perfect as a filling for a delicious pie.You can safely send berries of this variety to the freeze, because because of this they will not lose their excellent taste and vitamins that are in them.

Disease resistance

Blackberry Kiova has high immunity, which she received due to the good work of scientists and due to which, fungal diseases are not afraid of her. Carrying out preventive measures will completely avoid the attack of harmful insects.

Pros and cons

Photo of blackberry Kiova

Working on the Kiova blackberry variety, breeders managed to provide it with a large number of advantages, which include:

• No fungal diseases;
• Excellent taste;
• Fruit size;
• Resistance to long-term transportation;
• Frost resistance;
• Fruiting lasts for a long period.

The disadvantages include:

• Numerous sharp thorns;
• Late ripening, which does not allow cultivation of this variety in areas where the climate is harsh.

Blackberry Kiova: variety breeding

Reproduction is carried out in a vegetative way, through the rooting of shoots. To do this, you need to make a hole of small depth, lower the top of the shoot into it, pin it and sprinkle it with earth.

During the spring-summer period, they need to be watered and fertilized; for this, nitrophoska diluted in water is well suited.

Root formation occurs quite quickly and the first roots will appear after 30 days, however, transplanting will be possible only with the onset of next spring.

Blackberry Kiova: planting varieties

Photo of blackberry Kiova

In order for the yield to be high, you must start with the correct planting of the bush. This process does not require special knowledge and skills and will not be difficult, but in order to achieve high results, some rules must be followed.

Planting occurs in the spring after the ground is warmed up. If you carry out planting activities in the autumn, then you need to do this so that rooting occurs before the frost begins.

Appropriate place:

Blackberries of the Kiova variety will grow well and bear fruit only if they are planted in an area with good lighting without shading. It is also very important that the site is protected from strong winds.

The soil:

Blackberry Kiova loves light, nutrient-rich soil. In order to give the soil all these properties, it is necessary to add sand and peat there. With a high level of acidity in the ground, add dolomite flour there.

Buying a seedling:

When choosing a seedling, it is necessary that its root system is well developed and the plant has one living bud, one shoot and a leaf. The spine must be at least 10 centimeters long.

How to plant:

Before planting, you need to dig the landing holes, the distances between which will be at least one and a half meters, lay out a drainage layer of broken brick or gravel on the bottom and fill it with fertile soil. On a small mound, which should eventually turn out, you need to place a seedling, carefully spreading its roots and placing it around it.

After that, you need to sprinkle the roots with an earthen mixture from earth and organic matter. Next, you need to tamp the earth and water it abundantly.

It should be noted that the root collar must remain above the ground.

After planting, it is necessary to mulch the land next to the bushes, using straw or peat for this, and after that, cut off the branches, leaving about 40 centimeters in length.

Blackberry Kiova: leaving

Photo of blackberry Kiova

Kiova blackberries are easy to grow, so even a novice gardener can cope with this task without experiencing problems.

To strengthen the bush, you need to tie it to a trellis in the form of a fan. Despite the fact that Kiova consists of powerful erect shoots, it is still worth doing. Having done this simple procedure, you can greatly simplify your care and protect the branches from injuries that may occur during the abundant fruiting of large berries.It will also make harvesting and pruning much easier.

The volume of the harvest depends entirely on the kind of care that was carried out for the blackberry. If you adhere to fairly simple rules in care, then you can provide yourself with a consistently high stability of juicy tasty berries and there will be no reason for concern.

Watering should be moderate and regularly carried out during the period of bud formation, if the plant has enough moisture, then there will be a lot of flowers, which means the quantity and quality of the fruits will be better. To keep moisture in the ground longer, cover it with a layer of straw and peat mulch. When using humus or compost for these purposes, the plant will also receive a lot of nutrients during watering.

As soon as bud formation begins on the plant, it is necessary to apply fertilizers in the form of mineral fertilizers at intervals of 21 days. It is necessary to loosen the soil and clear it of weeds when the need arises.

How to prune a Kiowa blackberry?

For blackberries with erect stems, it is necessary to regularly cut off the lateral shoots, thus making the bush more compact and not letting it grow in different directions. Pruning is done in early spring and fall. In the first case, it is necessary to cleanse the plant from dry, rotten shoots. In the second case, pruning of young, weak shoots and old branches that have finished bearing fruit are carried out, which remained after the harvest was harvested. Only young and healthy shoots should remain, of which there should not be more than a dozen and which must be shortened by a third.

Wintering preparation rules

Shoots must be removed from the trellises as soon as the pruning is carried out, without waiting for their lignification, and carefully bending down, lay them under the covering material. Scientists engaged in breeding this variety talk about frost resistance, but since the climate in Central Russia is not the same as in the plant's homeland, it is better to avoid the risk and cover it.

Pest control and preventive measures

Blackberries of the Kiova variety are the owner of strong immunity that can cope with diseases, which saves gardeners from unnecessary problems. For prophylactic purposes of feet, carry out spring treatment with a safe preparation phytosporin.

As for pests, they are capable of causing quite a lot of damage to the bushes and destroying crops. However, if you know what difficulties may arise, then it will be much easier to cope with them.

The appearance of a spider mite is accompanied by yellowing, drying out and falling off of leaves ahead of time. In order to prevent their appearance, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil, while the depth of loosening should be at least 7 centimeters, and the same layer of mulch should be, which should cover the base of the bush. If the attack of this insect could not be avoided, then all damaged leaves must be removed, burned and treated with insecticides.

Due to the presence of the raspberry stem fly, the shoots begin to blacken, wither and dry out. For prevention, it is necessary to mulch the soil with a 5 cm layer. When attacking, it is necessary to remove and burn all damaged shoots.

When a stem raspberry gall midge appears, the development of the bush stops and later it dies. If found, it is necessary to immediately remove and burn all shoots with signs of damage. Preventive measures include loosening 7 cm deep and applying a 6 cm layer of mulch.

Due to the May beetle, the plant withers and dies. These insects must be collected by hand and treated with an iodine solution, dissolving 20 drops in 10 liters of water. For prevention, treatment should be carried out using insecticides and do this during the growing season.

Blackberry mites, which can sometimes be found on the plant, impair the quality of the fruit.In order to avoid their invasion, in the spring it is necessary to carry out prophylaxis by treating the bush with insecticides.

Outcome

Blackberry Kiova: video about the variety

Blackberry Kiova is a tasty, juicy, large berry, undoubtedly it cannot be ignored. She is unpretentious, always brings large yields of appetizing fruits. Gardeners speak of her extremely positively. Having tried these juicy berries once, the sharpness of a large number of thorns will not scare you. After all, flaws can be found everywhere, and in this variety there are very few of them.