Thanks to its subtle and unique taste, blackberries have gained quite a lot of popularity among the general population.

It definitely has some similarities to raspberries. But, compared to the latter, the yield of blackberries is several times higher. Unlike raspberries, blackberries have less frost resistance and greater drought resistance. America is considered the birthplace of this fruit and berry crop. Today, the industrial cultivation of blackberries is very developed in the United States, with a total area of ​​plantings exceeding 16 thousand hectares. In Europe and Asia, it has not received much recognition, and in most cases, it is grown by amateur gardeners or as a hedge in places with the appropriate climate. In Russia, thanks to long-term experiments and selections, I. V. Michurin developed several new varieties. It was he who first drew attention to the beneficial properties of blackberries, and considered it necessary to develop the cultivation of this crop in his country. But, unfortunately, at the moment there is no experience in the industrial cultivation of blackberries. Due to its irrepressible growth, thorns and tendency to thicken the planting, it is still most often perceived as a wild berry.

Description of blackberry

Blackberries are one of the representatives of the Rubus (raspberry) genus and belong to the Rosaceae family. It is a subshrub with erect or spreading stems covered with small thorns. Not long ago, new varieties of thornless blackberries were developed, making harvesting and caring for such shrubs much easier. The root system is perennial, well developed, and grows to a shallow depth. The basis of the entire system is the main root, which grows deeply, and additional, fibrous roots extend from it. That is why it is more advisable for blackberries to carry out moderate watering. Perennial shoots are covered with brown bark, annual shoots are always green and grass-like. The leaves are triple, toothed, covered with small hairs. Begins to bloom in mid to late June with small white or pink flowers. The flowering and ripening of berries is uneven; it is often possible to see flowers, ripe berries and fruits at different stages of ripening at the same time on one bush.

Blackberries pollinate on their own. Unlike raspberries, growing just one variety can yield a good harvest. Blackberries are black berries. As they ripen, they are first green, then turn yellow, turn pink, acquire a red tint, and then gradually turn black. To this day, you can often find this berry in the forest. It also develops well in the wild. Blackberry types can be distinguished by the characteristics of shoot growth and bush formation. For example, brambles are erect varieties, and dewberries are creeping varieties. There are about 400 species of blackberries in the world. Here are some of them:

Karaka Black - early ripening, highly productive variety, bred in New Zealand. The berries are large and elongated. Shoots not covered with thorns.
Izobilnaya is a winter-hardy, high-yielding variety bred by Michurin. Undemanding to soil. The branches are covered with thorns and spread along the ground. It does not produce root shoots and is propagated by pulping or cuttings.
Agave is an American variety with average winter hardiness. It is also grown in Russia and has high yields. The shoots grow straight and are covered with thorns. This variety is demanding on the soil and needs insulation for the winter.
Chokeberry - winter hardiness of this variety is average. The origin is unknown for certain, but judging by its biological characteristics, it has similarities with the variety of American origin Theodore Reimer. The yield of this variety is average; it has not won much recognition in Russia, but it can often be found cultivated in Latvian household plots.
Doyle is an American variety of blackberry, considered the most productive in the world. The average weight of one berry is 6-7 grams. It branches very well, sending out many additional shoots as its main shoots. Branches without thorns. Quite winter-hardy, but when grown in northern regions it needs shelter for the winter. The variety is very demanding when it comes to fertilizing.
Loch Tay is an early ripening variety, bred by Scottish breeders. Excellent for industrial growing. The bush is erect, but requires additional support. The branches are strong, do not break under strong winds, and have no thorns. It has excellent commercial qualities and tolerates transportation well.
In general, blackberries are a fairly unpretentious plant. As an exception, of course, there are certain varieties that require careful attention and constant attention. This is justified by high yields. In the Russian Federation, blackberries can be grown in almost any region, but carbonate soils should be avoided. Normally tolerates high levels of soil acidity. Blackberries respond well to fertilizing with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers and prefer sunny areas.

Planting and caring for blackberries

Blackberries are usually planted in the ground in the spring, until the buds appear. It is best to purchase planting material from a nursery to eliminate the risk of purchasing low-quality, disease-infected seedlings. It is not recommended to plant blackberries in the fall, as they may not have time to take root before frost sets in and die. Planting can be done in two ways:

1. tape - planting seedlings in trenches, maintaining a distance of 1 m between bushes;
2. bush - planting two to three seedlings in one hole, maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters between the holes.

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil. First of all, this is clearing the area of ​​predecessors, weeds, and deep plowing. If fruit crops were previously grown in this area, it is necessary to give the soil a rest for a couple of years. After loosening the soil, you need to wait two to three months, and then begin to arrange the planting sites. If these are trenches, furrows are cut for this, with a distance of 1.5-1.8 m between each. Provided that the planting will be carried out using the bush method, then they dig holes with a diameter of 40-60 cm. The depth of planting the seedlings is 30-35 cm. After this, support posts are installed on which the trellises are attached.
A small drainage consisting of crushed stone or gravel is first placed at the bottom of the planting sites, and then a nutrient mixture consisting of humus, potassium, superphosphate and soil. In some cases, wood ash is added to all this. It is recommended to shorten the roots of seedlings that are too long. The seedlings are placed in a hole and covered with earth, trying to prevent the formation of air pockets. The root collar is deepened by 3-4 cm. Then each bush is watered and the area around the trunk is mulched.

Blackberries love moisture and light, but can grow well in partial shade. There are differences between fruits that grew in open sunlight and those that ripened in the shade - blackberries are much sweeter under the sun. It especially needs watering during the active formation of the ovary. When planting, be sure to provide drainage; blackberries do not tolerate stagnant moisture and may get sick because of this.

Caring for blackberries is not difficult at all. The most important aspect is pruning. The formation of bushes (in this case, the erect type) must be started from the first year of growth. Considering that fruiting occurs only on two-year-old shoots, each year the branches are tied in different directions. This way, it will be much easier to see what needs to be trimmed and what to leave. In the fall, branches that bear fruit this year are pruned.

The system for forming creeping bushes is slightly different. In this case, the shoots are tied to the trellises in a fan-shaped manner. It is recommended to remove several lower buds on each branch so that during watering they do not touch the ground and rot.
In dry and hot summers, watering is carried out quite often. Due to the fact that a shadow forms on the surface of the ground under the thick crown of the bush, moisture will be retained longer. Blackberry feeding begins in the third or fourth year after planting. From now on, every autumn, after scheduled pruning, a layer of rotted manure is placed under each bush, and in the spring - phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers.

Harvesting is carried out in several approaches, due to the uneven ripening of the berries. But now varieties have been developed that ripen in one stage. And this allows you to significantly reduce time and labor resources.

Blackberry diseases and pests

Most often, blackberries get sick due to their close proximity to raspberries and other fruit and berry crops, from which they become infected. Diseases also occur due to a lack of nutrients in the soil and the presence of nearby sources of rotting. With high degrees of infection, radical measures are sometimes required, including removing and burning diseased bushes. But usually they get by with preventative pruning and treatment with broad-spectrum fungicides.
Let's look at the most common types of blackberry diseases:

1. Powdery mildew. Refers to infectious types of diseases. Affects leaves, shoots and berries. The stems and fruits are covered with a white coating, first inhibiting the ripening of the berries, and then the entire future harvest can be completely destroyed. The disease usually develops during periods of prolonged rainy weather. An effective method of combating powdery mildew is spraying with Bordeaux mixture and removing the affected shoots and fruits.

2. Anthracnose. Covers all above-ground parts of the plant with purple spots, which gradually increase in size, deepen, and cause withering and cracking of the shoots. The leaves fall, the berries stop ripening and dry out. Young shoots and basal shoots are especially severely affected. With this disease, you have to completely remove the bushes along with the roots, and over the next few years, grow only vegetable crops in this place.

3. Purple spotting. A fungal disease that develops quickly when bushes are overly dense and in humid weather. Signs of this disease are drying out of the buds, wilting and shedding of leaves. Control methods include spraying with Bordeaux mixture, pruning, preventive measures against stem gall midges, and removal of diseased bushes.
4. White spotting. Another type of fungal disease. Leaves and branches become covered with transparent whitish mucus, later with brown spots with a light border. The berries rot and fall off. The disease appears due to dampness. Control measures include Bordeaux mixture and other types of fungicides, pruning, digging the soil and removing diseased bushes.

5. Rust. It appears in the form of a sticky mass, which consists of many orange small dots. It spreads very quickly throughout the bush. The next stage of the disease occurs when this sticky mass dries out and a film and ulcers appear. Then the affected areas dry out and fall off. The cause of the disease lies in the lack of soil moisture and excessive thickening. To prevent the spread of this disease, damaged shoots are cut and burned, fallen leaves and fruits are destroyed, and the irrigation regime is adjusted. They are also sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Rust is a disease of fungal etiology; an interesting fact is that the causative fungus uses only blackberries as a host, posing no danger to other plants.

6. Non-communicable diseases. They appear when there is a deficiency of one or another mineral in the soil. The lack of calcium, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, boron, and phosphorus has a particularly strong effect on the condition of plants. Under such conditions, the bushes become more susceptible to fungal diseases, begin flowering later, and reduce the number of fruits. The berries grow smaller and their taste is distorted. Also, under such conditions, one can observe excessive elongation and thinning of the shoots, and a small amount of ovary. To eliminate any problems, you should conduct a chemical analysis of the soil composition, and, based on the results obtained, adjust the fertilizer and fertilizing regime.

In addition, there are some types of pests that can cause considerable damage to the crop. The root system is very damaged by mole crickets and chafers; shoots and leaves - raspberry aphid, raspberry stem fly, blackberry aphid, sawflies, raspberry mites. Buds, buds and fruits are destroyed by raspberry beetles, flower beetles, and bud moths. When attacked by such pests, not only chemical but also biological agents can be used. For example, garlic, marigolds and onions can be planted near blackberry and raspberry plantations. With their smell they repel a huge number of species of certain pests. Thanks to this method, it is possible to maintain the ecological purity of the crop. But in case of mass infestation by several types of pests, this method is unlikely to be effective enough; you will still have to resort to the use of insecticides. When preparing bushes for wintering, you should inspect them. Pests can hide under the bark of shoots or in the root areas of the soil. Therefore, the soil should be loosened, mixed with ash, and damaged shoots should be cut off.

Useful properties and uses of blackberries

Since time immemorial, our ancestors knew the medicinal qualities of blackberries. Moreover, not only berries were valued, but also young twigs and leaves. Decoctions from blackberry branches have blood purifying properties. In ancient times, fresh leaves were chewed to strengthen the gums. An auxiliary syrup is made from berries, which is effective for colds and stomach problems. Blackberries also ease the body's condition in case of allergic reactions and hypertension. It is dried and made into compotes, preserves, jams and even wine. Because blackberries are not only tasty, but also healthy. By the way, according to herbalists, blackberries are significantly superior to raspberries in terms of antipyretic properties. Tea made from blackberry leaves has the same property, as well as excellent taste. True, after they undergo the fermentation process.

We recommend that anyone who wants to work on their plot of land not only for their own pleasure, but also to receive a rich harvest and profit from its sale, think about growing blackberries as a business.

One blackberry bush of modern selection can produce a harvest of up to 20 kg, and the cost of a kilogram of berries on the market ranges from 100 to 300 rubles. Therefore, even a dozen bushes can bring considerable income, and if there are a hundred or more of them, then the profit received will increase tenfold.

Blackberries are a very tasty and healthy berry that is in demand. Currently, blackberries are not grown in large quantities in our country, so there is practically no competition in this area.

For example, in the United States, farms have long started growing this berry. Entire plantations are planted with bushes, and the resulting harvest is sold in many countries in Europe and the world.

Documents required to start a business

Anyone who wants to build a business growing blackberries, and not have problems with government regulatory authorities, must register their business. To do this, you need to prepare the following set of documents:

1. Statement of the established form;
2. Certificate of residence;
3. A document confirming payment of the duty;
4. Copy of the passport;
5. A copy of the certificate of registration with the tax authorities.

You do not need to obtain a certificate or license to grow, sell or process blackberries.

How much money is required to start

Like any business, growing blackberries requires initial capital and certain financial costs. The amount of basic investments includes expenses for:

• Rent for land – 200-300 thousand rubles;
• The cost of purchasing seedlings is about 40 thousand rubles;
• Other expenses – 10 thousand rubles.

You will need to invest about half a million rubles to start the business.

You should also not forget about other monthly costs that will certainly appear:

1. For watering (payment of utilities);
2. For the purchase of fertilizers and plant protection products;
3. To pay the workers of your farm.

The business will not pay off right away; for the first 1-2 years you will only have to invest effort and money in developing your business. Only then can you get the first harvest.

Of course, in the summer its cost decreases, although in any case it is sold at an average price of 300-500 rubles per kilogram. With the right approach, monthly profits can be from 50 thousand rubles.

How to properly prepare the site?

Success directly depends on the correct preparation of the soil for seedlings. The soil should be fertile with an acidity pH of 5.5-6.7, and the area itself should be well lit. It is necessary to maintain a technological distance between the rows and bushes of seedlings, which is 2.5-3 meters.

Proper care of blackberry bushes will allow you to collect about 20 kg of berries from each bush during the season. Blackberry seedlings are not very susceptible to diseases and pests, and the berries are easily transported over long distances.

Blackberry seedlings can be planted either from roots or cuttings. Before planting, the soil must be properly prepared, fertilized with manure, which will saturate the soil with nutrients and strengthen the young plants.

The bushes bloom only in warm periods, produce crops for a long time, and the number of berries depends on the quality of care. The low resistance of plants to frost forces the entrepreneur to buy material for covering the bushes for the winter. Plants left over the winter may freeze, which will then negatively affect their yield.

Necessary equipment and other business details

Step-by-step instructions for an entrepreneur planning to start growing blackberries:

• Register with local authorities;
• Rent a plot of land to grow berries;
• Prepare it for planting, find good seedlings and properly care for them;
• Establish sales of blackberries.

Organizing a growing space implies the need to purchase gardening tools. To get a rich harvest, experienced entrepreneurs use a special drip irrigation system, which must be installed before planting.

Blackberries are a picky plant that does not require any specific skills or abilities from the workers hired to care for it. To service at least a hectare of land planted with blackberries, you will need to hire at least 10 people (the staff will have to be expanded during the harvest season).

Before planting, the soil is dug deep and 10-15 cm wide, and purchased seedlings are planted in it. The distance between the bushes and the rows of blackberries should be about 50 cm. To successfully grow tall varieties, you must have devices and materials for tying the bushes to supports.

Tall bushes allow you to harvest a larger harvest and require additional care. All seedlings must be covered with agrotex (a special breathable insulating material) to protect them from the cold in winter.

Secrets of implementation

Selling the harvest quickly is perhaps the most difficult part of a business plan. You can sell the first batches of berries through your friends and relatives, gradually increasing your customer base.

Next, you need to look for new ways to sell: these could be cafes and restaurants in your city and neighboring towns, and many retail outlets will agree to accept this vitamin-rich berry for sale.

You can sign an agreement with shops and supermarkets on regular deliveries as soon as the business begins to function at full capacity. Moreover, you can even try to sell products via the Internet.

During periods of war and crisis, the connection with the earth is felt especially acutely. The moment of truth comes precisely when familiar ties are broken, exchange rates are rapidly changing, banks are bursting, and panic is sweeping the stock exchanges.
At such a time, it becomes increasingly obvious that it is not oil, or gas, or even the dollar that are the true equivalent of values, but everything that is produced by the labor of a person working on the land.

About the profitability of crop production

Not only does a person get enough of bread alone, today’s peasants want to have the same benefits that city dwellers have. But making money in the village is much more difficult. A villager often cannot get a fair price for his hard work. And the point is not at all that it is impossible to organize profitable production in the countryside, but that in any modern business you need to invest money, which, with a reasonable approach, will bring a sure income. But in rural production it is impossible to multiply them quickly, because the turnover time is tied to the seasons and the annual cycle. However, there is no risk of losing invested funds, as happens on the stock exchange. Some may object, blaming the weather and prices, but world practice shows that the use of modern technologies allows for the profitable production of crop products even in semi-desert conditions. If we talk about profit, then it is quite natural that no one is waiting for you on the market, especially if it is full of small private producers or resellers with similar goods. Therefore, in order to earn money, you need to choose the right direction and occupy a free niche in the market, but this must be done immediately in order to guarantee a fair price for the products and a return on investment.

I'm betting on blackberries

I am not a banker and cannot offer money for investment in production, but I know how to earn it by occupying a niche that is still free. In the first half of the 90s, I planted the first bushes of garden American blackberries in my garden, and what prompted me to do this was an incident that happened to me in the mid-80s in Ukraine. In the forests of the Zhitomir region, I came across an upright bush of large-fruited unusual blackberry that bore fruit abundantly. There were a lot of berries of excellent taste on it. For a long time I could not forget this forest vision, and as soon as I had land, I began searching for varieties. I already knew about the lack of winter hardiness of cultivated blackberries, so I almost immediately began growing them, bending the bushes down for the winter with light shelter. I was lucky because I was able to purchase intensive varieties - Evergreen and Thornfree. Already in the third year, the harvest was more than 4 kg of unusual berries with a pleasant taste from the bush. By the fourth or fifth year, the harvest was more than 10 kg, and this despite the fact that from these bushes I received a large number of layerings for further propagation.

About yield

When I told gardeners that blackberry yields could be measured in buckets, they openly did not believe me, and our gardening literature only supported mistrust. Here is a quote from the book “Raspberries and Blackberries” by Professor I.V. Kazakova: “At the Maikop experimental station VNIIR
L.A. Gruner conducted an economic and biological assessment of a number of blackberry varieties of foreign selection. In the conditions of the foothills of the North Caucasus, the most winter-hardy varieties were Wilsons Earley, Lawton, Erie, and Kittatinny with upright shoots. They are able to withstand frosts - 20 oC...-22 oC. All varieties with creeping shoots are weakly winter-hardy. The varieties McDonald, Thornfree, Wilson's Earley, and Flint showed complex resistance to the main fungal diseases - anthracnose and rust. The most productive group included the varieties Erie, Kittatinny, and Lawton (1.5-2.5 kg of berries per bush).”
If I had not seen Ukrainian forest blackberries with my own eyes, and especially modern commercial varieties of garden blackberries, then after such an assessment I would never have grown them. But today, when I have 15 years of experience behind me, a collection of two dozen varieties, and the harvest from Thornfree in the conditions of Samara with the use of shelter exceeds 20 kg per bush, I cannot agree with the results of these studies. I will only say that most of what was recommended by the researcher as the most productive was bred in the middle of the 19th century. These half-forgotten varieties have not been used in gardening for a long time. But Thornfree, bred in 1966 at the University of Maryland (USA) by Dr. Scott, is widely grown in industrial production in Europe. And this is no coincidence, because its yield is tens of times higher than that of the mentioned varieties. Frost resistance down to -25 ° C, the berry weighs 5-8 g, while those of Erie, Kittatinny, Loughton - 3-3.5 g. All mentioned straight-growing varieties are prickly, while the Thornfree variety is genetically thornless. Today, this variety is grown by amateurs in many gardens in Russia, and when the shoots are covered for the winter, even in the middle zone, it produces yields of 15 to 25 kg per bush at 5-6 years of age. This is evidenced by the experience of amateurs from Ufa, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd and even Gorno-Altaisk. Intensive varieties have similar yields: Thornless Evergreen, Black Satin, Smutstem. Moreover, the yield increases with the age and power of the bush. Leonid Vasilyevich Balabaev from Samara in the summer of 2007 collected an average of 18 kg of berries from a five-year-old bush from Thornfree. In 2008, the harvest was 21.5 kg per bush. Productivity also depends on the latitude of cultivation. Significantly higher yields of the Black Satin variety are collected by Natalya Puzenko from Volgograd. The varieties Black Satin and Thornfree are also grown near Moscow, only the bushes are less developed due to lack of heat, part of the crop does not have time to ripen, falling under frost, but what remains is much larger than with any raspberry. Therefore, in the north, bushes are planted in the sunniest place, and in the Volgograd, Rostov, and Astrakhan regions they try to place plantings in more shaded areas, because the berries at the ends of the shoots become smaller and bake in the sun.

Profitability of culture

We plant bushes of thornless varieties with intervals between bushes of 1.5 m and between rows of 1.7 m. Thus, there are about 40 bushes per hundred square meters. It is easy to calculate that even if the yield is reduced by half, then in the 5th-6th year the plantation will produce 400 kg of berries per hundred square meters or 40 t/ha. Of course, a cover crop cannot be grown on many hectares, since covering and harvesting is quite labor-intensive work. But even a harvest from several acres more than pays for all costs and brings a good profit. This tasty large berry is not available on today's Russian market. I don't take into account frozen berries coming from Europe. Frozen berries change their original quality so much that they are difficult to recognize. Therefore, a bucket of fresh berries sold at retail in Volgograd is valued at 2,000 rubles, and a glass of blackberries in Moscow is valued at 250 rubles.
Americans and Europeans are engaged in selection and cultivation. But we ourselves can produce it in any quantities. This is facilitated by productivity, large fruit, transportability, high taste, virtually no diseases and pests, thornless industrial varieties and the absence of offspring, drought resistance (thanks to a powerful root system), and a free market. There is only one drawback - low winter hardiness, but today in many gardens large-fruited raspberries grow, the winter hardiness of which also leaves much to be desired (it is necessary to bend the stems under the snow and cover them easily). And for a plant covered with snow, it makes absolutely no difference whether it is 20 °C or 30 °C. The shelter guarantees a full harvest of both crops. Only blackberries produce many times more than the most productive raspberries, being in no way inferior in quality, and perhaps even surpassing them in some way. Even despite the lower winter hardiness and the need for shelter, it is less expensive and labor-intensive. The production of this berry is easier than the production of potatoes, and the potato harvest from one hundred square meters is comparable in weight to the blackberry harvest from the same area. But a bucket of potatoes is cheaper than a bucket of blackberries. Even wholesale prices can be beneficial for production. It’s even better if the business is run by people on a cooperative basis or a large, strong family.
In this article I only covered a little of what was revealed to me. This culture is worthy of a separate book. It has been well studied, dozens of foreign universities are working with it, many articles and books have been published on agricultural technology, scientific research, management, there are patent data on varieties, annual international scientific conferences of scientists and manufacturers are held, materials are published on hundreds of English-language websites of farming and scientific institutions. Domestic books about blackberries are most often written in the quiet of offices and are far from practice and world science.

Doing business in the agricultural sector is a very profitable business. Of course, it is best to organize an agricultural business if you have at least a small plot of land. Therefore, this line of business will be appropriate for residents of rural areas. It is in villages and hamlets that there are all conditions for breeding livestock and growing various plants. But insufficient information about a particular culture does not allow residents to start their own profitable business.

In this article we will talk about a current and specific business idea - growing blackberries at home. Due to the low prevalence of this crop in garden plots, it is in great demand among the population. Let's first understand the technology of growing blackberries, and then talk about possible distribution channels.
Blackberries cannot be called a frequent guest on a personal plot. We are more familiar with such crops as strawberries, currants, raspberries and wild strawberries. Many people compare raspberries with blackberries. But in terms of yield, raspberries are not even close to black berries.

What is good about business growing blackberries?

In recent years, the fashion for growing blackberries at home is gaining more and more fans. And this fact is logically justified. Growing these berries is no more difficult than other crops. If you follow all the rules when planting and properly care for the plant, it will begin to bear fruit in the next season. Moreover, the yield from one bush can reach up to 30 kilograms per season. Find out the prices for blackberries at the local market and calculate the possible profit from one bush. Not bad? And in stores the prices for these berries are even higher.

How to grow blackberries?

First you need to acquire planting material - seedlings. Blackberries can be propagated both by cuttings and roots. But the root method is more successful. To do this, in early spring you need to dig up roots about 15 cm long and 7 cm in diameter. After collecting the material, you can begin planting. The roots are planted immediately after collection in the place where they will always grow. The soil in the area where blackberries will grow should not be too wet. Also, the soil should contain as little sand as possible. Blackberries are unpretentious to all other natural factors.

To get a rich harvest, you need to take care of fertilizing the soil. The best fertilizer for blackberries is considered to be the most common manure. You need to add it at the rate of about 3 kilograms per square meter of land. Fertilizing the soil is done during its preparation for planting roots. Do not forget about systematic watering of the plant. This is especially important during the period of fruit ripening and rapid growth of stems.

Some blackberry varieties require staking of stems. You can use a metal or wooden trellis as a support. This approach will not only improve the development of the plant, but also improve the fruit harvesting process. Blackberries are very sensitive to frost. Therefore, in winter you need to take care of warmth for the stems. If they are covered with snow, then there is nothing to be afraid of. But if there is no snow, but frost is pressing, then the stems should be hidden under plastic wrap.

These are all the main points of the technology for growing blackberries at home. There is nothing complicated about it. You just need to plant it correctly and constantly care for the plant. If everything is done correctly, then next season blackberries will delight you with a bountiful harvest. Now let's look at product distribution channels.

Let's start making money

So, the first harvest of blackberries has been harvested. Now we need to find good ways to market the products. You should start with your work colleagues, friends and acquaintances. It is among them that the first regular customers will appear.

Another distribution channel will be local cafes and restaurants. A large number of similar establishments will be interested in purchasing your product. When the demand for your blackberries increases, it will be possible to arrange supplies of products to stores and even supermarkets.

Among other things, blackberries will become a permanent guest on your table. And this is already a success. After all, it is almost impossible to buy it at reasonable prices.

Growing blackberries is a very promising and profitable business that can be organized in any village, town or village. Every year blackberries are becoming increasingly popular among buyers. Ripe berries contain a full range of nutrients and medicinal substances, including sucrose, glucose, fructose, B vitamins, vitamin C, minerals and other macro- and microelements.

To organize a blackberry business, you need a well-lit area and light, fertile soil; it requires constant watering in the summer. The distance between rows is 3 m, between bushes in a row is 1.5-2.5 m, in the direction from north to south. The optimal soil acidity value is pH 5.5-6.7. Up to 20-25 kg of berries are harvested from one bush per season. Blackberries are much more productive and heat-resistant (especially important in recent years for the south of Ukraine) than raspberries. It has high taste, practically no diseases and pests, the berry is transportable. Blackberries have one drawback - low winter hardiness and require mandatory shelter for the winter. Strong winter winds can dry out the stems, causing the plant to lose yield.

Blackberries have a two-year development cycle: in the first year the shoot grows, in the second it bears fruit and dies. Recently, a new variety of remontant blackberry, Reuben, was developed, which is capable of producing a harvest on the current year's shoots. But the Reuben variety still requires study in our climate zone. Blackberries begin to bloom at a time when there is no longer any threat of frost. Fruiting is extended and lasts about a month. The flowers are bisexual (self-pollinating), but when several varieties are grown on your site, the yield is more stable.

The best blackberry varieties for business

Loch Tay(Loch Tay) - a blackberry variety of Scottish selection. Shoots without thorns, more than 3 m long. Bushes are vigorous, semi-erect. The taste of Loch Tay berries is very good, rich. The berry is medium-sized, shiny, with an average weight of 4.5-5g. It is an industrial variety of blackberry.

Features of the variety

• High yield
• Early ripening
• Good taste and transportability
• Requires support devices and shelter for the winter

Loch Tay variety enjoys very popular among gardeners who practicegrowing blackberries as a business.

Black Magic(Black magic)- a remontant blackberry variety with tasty and large berries. The fruits are elongated, hard, average berry weight is 10g. The peculiarity of the variety is good pollination in hot weather and slight thorniness in the fruiting zone.

Features of the variety

• Good taste and
• High resistance to heat during berry formation
• Presence of thorns

Thornfree- American high-yielding variety. The bush is powerful, shoots creeping 3-5 m long. The berries are shiny, large, sweet and sour. With good care (watering, mulch, fertilizing), the fruits become larger and the taste improves. Winter hardiness - 25.

Features of the variety

• Productivity up to 30 kg per bush
• When frozen, shoots quickly recover
• Resistant to stem canker and rust
• No thorns
• Requires shelter for the winter and the use of a trellis when growing
• N e high taste qualities

Black Satin- American thornless variety with shiny sweet and sour berries weighing 5-8 g. Characterized by high yield and extended fruiting. For long-term transportation, Black Satin blackberries are collected slightly unripe.

Features of the variety

• The berries do not shrink until the end of the harvest
• Slightly superior in taste to Thornfree
• Over-ripening of berries has a bad effect on transportability
• Requires shelter in winter