10 best blackberry varieties for the Moscow region

Polar Berry is a self-fertile and disease-resistant blackberry variety that tolerates winter cold well, but still winters better under cover. It is valued for the unusual white color of the berries, which look incredibly decorative. The bush is compact, shoots rarely reach 2.5 meters in length, but most often do not grow more than 1.2-1.5 meters. Spikes are present, but relatively few in number. The berries are medium in size, the yield from one bush is about 5 kg. Due to the white color, the berries lack anthocyanins, which, according to some, reduces their usefulness. But Polar Berry is valued more for its unusualness, so planting it on your site is for those who already have experience in growing blackberries and want something new.

Karaka Black is a relatively new variety of New Zealand selection, which has already become popular. It attracts with an expressive elongated shape of berries up to 5 cm, the weight of which reaches 15 grams at the beginning of fruiting.Unlike many others, this variety produces sufficiently transportable fruits that can keep their presentation for 5 days. It is possible to call this variety suitable for growing in the Moscow region only conditionally, since it has a low frost resistance. But you can find a lot of feedback from gardeners who shelter shoots for the winter, providing them with optimal conditions for wintering. The shrub forms quite powerful shoots up to 5-6 meters long. A large number of spines somewhat complicates care.

Agawam is one of the oldest blackberry varieties that has been known for over a hundred years. He has both fans and opponents. The first are attracted by the unpretentiousness and rapid reproduction of this blackberry variety, its frost resistance (in a number of sources it is indicated up to -39, somewhere up to -30). The second criticizes the size and taste of berries, their lack of keeping quality, sharp thorns and the rapid growth of shrubs. The fruits are really small, like forest ones. If you pick them unripe, then the taste is unlikely to impress, but if you wait for full ripening, then it should not disappoint. Only here it will not be possible to store fully ripe berries, they must immediately be processed. In general, Agaves can be included among the best varieties, if only because its shoots do not need to be covered during the winter, even when grown in the Moscow region.

Thornfree's thornless blackberry was bred in the USA for industrial cultivation, therefore it is characterized by unpretentious care, high yields and the possibility of long-term storage of the harvested crop. Berries of medium size are 7-10 grams, but there are up to 20 of them on one inflorescence, which, with shoots up to 5 meters long, allows you to get up to 10-12 kg, and even more with proper care. Thornfree has an average frost resistance; when grown in the Moscow region, it is recommended to cover it. Judging by the reviews, in snowy winters, the shoots do not freeze out even without additional shelter, but it’s better not to risk it. The ripening period of the variety is average, in cool summers and autumns in the Moscow region, not the entire crop, but only part of it, may ripen.

The blackberry variety Guy was bred in Poland relatively recently, namely in 2006.It is thornless, winters at home without shelter and theoretically tolerates frosts down to -30, but in the conditions of the Moscow Region, gardeners are trying to provide him with additional protection from the winter cold. The berries begin to ripen in the second half of July, delighting with a pleasant taste and characteristic aroma. Some in the reviews say that Guy is somewhat reminiscent of the taste of mulberries. The first berries are quite large, reaching 15-16 grams, the next ones are somewhat smaller, the yield is excellent. The fruits are quite resilient, so many plant this variety to sell berries.

Gloria is a new thornless blackberry variety of Polish selection. Nurseries began to offer it to gardeners relatively recently, so there are no real reviews yet, but the characteristics given by the sellers are impressive. So, the variety is early, the berries begin to ripen already in mid-July. The weight of the fruits is average, about 8-10 grams, the color is saturated with a glossy sheen. The sugar content in the berries is high and reaches 12%, they are called one of the sweetest. Even when incompletely ripened, they do not feel acid or astringency. After harvesting, the crop is stored for up to 7-10 days. The sellers call the winter hardiness of Gloria high, but they do not give exact numbers, so it will not be superfluous to cover the shoots.

Natchez is a thornless blackberry variety, bred in the USA and actively distributed in Russia. Its powerful shoots reach a height of 5 meters, require a mandatory garter to a support in the form of a trellis, sometimes they can break from the weight of the fruit. The variety does not tolerate severe cold, so it is covered for the winter for better preservation. The berries of Natchez are very large, the weight of some can exceed 20 grams. They are collected in clusters of 13-15 pieces, which guarantees a high yield of up to 15 kg per bush. Another advantage of them is their incredible keeping quality and the ability to maintain their marketable appearance up to a crescent. The taste of the berries is excellent, many note cherry notes in it. The variety is quite drought-resistant, but during the ripening period of the berries requires regular watering.

Black Butte or Black Butter is another early variety of blackberry, which, provided it is sheltered for the winter, grows well and bears fruit in gardens near Moscow. The frost resistance of the plant is up to -29 degrees, but without exception, all those who grow it on their plots practice additional protection from the cold.The main feature of Black Butte is berries up to 6 cm long and weighing up to 20 grams. They ripen within a few weeks, in the refrigerator they can be stored up to 7-10 days. Black Butte grows quite quickly, but in general it is compact, since the shoots rarely exceed 3 meters. Hence the declared yield is not as high as that of many other varieties.

Black Satin is one of the most popular varieties of thornless blackberries for the Moscow region. It is quite frost-resistant, and even if the shoots freeze, it quickly recovers. Experienced gardeners in their reviews still recommend making at least a slight shelter for the bushes. The berries of this variety are medium in size. Very sweet when fully ripe, slightly sour when half-ripe. Their keeping quality is minimal, so it is recommended to immediately eat the crop or use it for processing. The yield depends on the age of the bush and the literacy of care. Black Satin seedlings grow rapidly. The first 1.5 m of height have a vertical direction, then the shoots begin to spread.

Loch Tay is an early blackberry variety that is thornless, fast growing and drought tolerant. It grows well and bears fruit in the Moscow region, giving rather large fruits. The first berries begin to ripen in the second half of June, and the harvest will take several weeks. With proper care, after about 4-5 years, it is possible to collect up to 20-22 kg of berries per season, which are suitable for storage and transportation. Although Loch Tay is considered a fairly unpretentious variety, resistant to both high and low temperatures, it needs regular watering in the summer and shelter from frost in the winter. Reviews about this variety sound only good, many grow it not only for themselves, but also for the purpose of selling berries.