Blackberry Asterina

Recently, they have been reluctant to cultivate and grow blackberries in their summer cottages, since most varieties are too whimsical, have numerous thorns, which complicates the process of leaving and picking berries. The situation has radically changed with the appearance of the Asterina variety.

Breeding history

Asterina is one of the most promising and delicious blackberry varieties that both amateur gardeners and farmers need to pay attention to. Over the years, breeders and scientists have worked to develop a new variety of blackberries that will be sweeter, more resistant to disease and temperature extremes.

The work of breeders in Switzerland ended with incredible success, when, as a result of crossing two blackberry varieties Chester and Loch Ness, a completely new type of berry called Asterina appeared, ideal for fresh consumption, as well as for canning and other harvesting.

Asterina is an early berry variety. The period of active fruiting lasts about 2 months - July-August, sometimes until mid-September. After fully ripening, the berries do not crumble, unlike other species. The fruiting period may shift slightly due to the peculiarities of the climate of the region where the blackberry is grown.

This variety is perfectly adapted to hot climates, therefore it is not afraid of drought and strong sun. In drought, irrigation or abundant watering is sufficient. In addition, the variety is frost-resistant, therefore it takes root in areas with different climatic conditions. At low temperatures, it is enough to insulate the bushes, that is, cover with a material that retains heat.

Asterina is a thornless, fruitful blackberry. From a bush, you can collect from 3 to 7 kg.

This blackberry variety has its own characteristic features, thanks to which it has a pronounced taste. The black berries are oval-elongated and very sweet, with sweetness and richness present even in unripe fruits. Each berry with a dense fleshy structure weighs 7-15 g. The taste of blackberry is dessert, with a subtle sourness. In addition to its rich taste, the variety has a bright aroma.

This berry variety is easily grown in completely different conditions, without requiring special skills, so any amateur gardener can cope with this task.

The place where Asterin will be grown must be well lit, it is desirable that the sun's rays fall on the site. A few weeks before planting, weeds should be removed, the soil should be dug up, and if necessary, then the acid-base balance should be regulated - brought to neutral. Blackberry bushes grow well on loam. For them, a cluster landing method is used, where the distance should be at least one meter, and between the rows - at least two meters.

Pruning is one of the most important parts of plant care.As soon as the central shoots reach a height of 1 meter, then their tops must be cut off by 10-15 cm. The same should be done with lateral shoots that have grown to the appropriate height. Frozen shoots are also subject to pruning after winter. They need to be shortened to live buds. In autumn, dried and damaged branches are shortened, as well as weak shoots near the root.

Care and proper cultivation of blackberries involves timely watering and feeding the plant. The first 40-45 days, watering is needed regularly, and then once a week. During the fruiting period, it is also necessary to regularly water the bush. In the spring, the soil is fertilized and also saturated with mineral components (ammonium nitrate, urea).

Blackberry bushes Asterin are frost-hardy, but they should still be prepared for winter. After pruning weak and dead branches, the earth must be loosened and fed with humus, and then the bushes must be insulated. For this, agrofibre is used.

According to experienced gardeners, an excellent prevention of various diseases is the procedure for treating bushes with boiling water. In general, this variety has good immunity to various kinds of bacteria, but blackberries are still susceptible to anthracnose.

Reproduction is carried out in several ways - by dividing the bush into parts, by means of root suckers, and also using green cuttings. It is the root suckers that are considered an excellent planting material. To avoid diseases, blackberries are planted away from raspberries, strawberries and nightshade crops.

Analyzing the many reviews of amateur gardeners and farmers growing Asterin blackberries for industrial purposes, it can be argued that the variety takes root quickly, does not require whimsical care and huge cash investments, and is also very tasty, incredibly aromatic and sweet. Sometimes farmers have difficulty breeding this blackberry variety.