Raspberries with black berries are not yet often found in gardeners' plots and market stalls. However, it is chokeberry varieties that combine rapid adaptation to various climatic features, ease of care and the extraordinary taste of the berry with extremely beneficial properties for humans. One of the most popular black raspberry varieties is the Cumberland raspberry.
Variety Description
The hybrid, obtained by crossing raspberries and blackberries, has been grown in America for over a hundred years. On the territory of our country, it is still not very popular, although there are reviews on the forums of gardeners and they are basically only positive.
The Cumberland variety is not remontant, medium early, grown mainly in summer cottages.
The spreading appearance of the bush is inherited from the blackberry. The shoots have a falling appearance, if they are not cut off, they grow up to 3-3.5 m in length. They are covered with thorns, especially densely on fruit twigs and stalks. The branches from the base to the top are covered with berry brushes, each of which bears 10-12 berries.
Perhaps you will be interested! Description of the most popular Polish raspberry - variety.
root system fibrous, but also has several taproots, which allows the bush to bear fruit in moderate drought and in moist soil. It does not give overgrowth, so the plant does not spread over the site.
The leaves are large, collected in five leaf plates on one branch. On the back, they are glossy, with sharp notches along the edges.
Raspberry Cumberland blooms in early June, when there is no longer a danger of spring frosts, so there are no empty inflorescences, the flowers do not crumble, they are pollinated by insects.
Berries of medium size, weighing up to 2 grams. They begin to sing from mid-July, like ordinary raspberry varieties. Their color changes as they mature. At first they are purple-red, then dark cherry, and finally ripening, they become almost black with a bluish bloom. contain much more useful substances than the berries of ordinary red raspberries. They are antioxidants, have immunocorrective, antipyretic properties.
Medium-sized drupes with fairly large pits. The pulp is tender, not very juicy, the taste is special, average between raspberries and blackberries. The aroma is subtle, berry. The berries are easily removed from the stalk, as befits a raspberry. When collecting do not crumple, do not flow. Collected for several days, they do not secrete juice, do not turn into porridge. Transportation is well tolerated. From one bush per season they collect 8-10 kg. harvest.
Grade Benefits
- high yield;
- high nutritional and healing value of berries;
- frost resistance, drought resistance;
- immunity to diseases and pests;
- flowering after frost;
- lack of shoots;
- unusual taste of fruits, similar to mulberries.
Variety disadvantages
- the presence of thorns on the shoots;
- branching, thickening of bushes;
- large seeds in berries;
Yellow Cumberland
Yellow Cumberland is a yellow-fruited variety of Cumberland. The bushes are high (up to 3.0 m), strongly thorned. Spikes are hooked, even on the underside of leaf cuttings. The berries are yellow (turn brownish when overripe), spherical, medium-sized, dense, transportable. The taste is sour, the aroma of mulberry, which is observed in the chokeberry variant, is absent. The stones are large, felt when consumed fresh and preserved. The color of the bark is green to light brown. Productivity is high and can reach 10-14 kg. from the bush. The fruiting period is about a week ahead of the black Cumberland. Yellow Cumberland does not give shoots, propagates according to the principle of blackberries, by rooting the tops. Frost-resistant, tolerates frosts down to -35 gr. without additional shelters and without removal from the trellis. Differs in excellent survival. The main disadvantages are the mediocre taste of berries and an abundance of thorns.
Landing
It is recommended to grow Cumberland raspberries on forest soils or chernozem loams. It is better to plant cuttings in early spring, as soon as the earth warms up a little. Sunny, protected from winter winds, the site is ideal for raspberries. It is important that nightshade crops, raspberries or strawberries have not grown in this place before. Considering that the bushes are sprawling, the distance between them should be at least 1.5 meters, the width between the rows should be 2 meters. This condition must be observed so that the bushes do not shade each other, do not create difficulties when pruning, tying shoots and picking berries.
The soil on the site is pre-fertilized with manure, humus or forest land. A portion of fertilizers (compost or humus, chicken manure, ash or potassium salt and superphosphate) is also laid in the dug trenches for cuttings, which will provide the plant with nutrition in the first years of the plant's life. If the spring is warm and dry, then after planting, the rows should be watered for the first month every week at the rate of 10-20 l. water on the bush. It is important that the landing site is mulched to retain moisture under the bushes.
While the bushes are small and do not interfere with work, it is necessary to build trellises 180-200 cm high with a wire stretched in three rows for tying shoots in the next season.
Cultivation and care
Watering
The frequency of watering Cumberland raspberries depends on the weather, the nature of the soil and the terrain. Sandy soil in open areas requires more frequent watering than loam in the shade. After 2-3 years, when the bushes grow, they will contribute to the preservation of moisture with their own shadow, in addition, the roots of Cumberland raspberries are deeper than those of ordinary raspberries, they are able to extract moisture from the lower layers of the soil. In the early years, you need to water regularly, then - as needed.
pruning
In the summer, when the shoots grow up to 180-200 cm, their first pruning is carried out in order to put lateral branches from the axillary buds into active growth. It is important that these branches have time to grow and get stronger before winter, because they will give the bulk of the crop next season.
The second time pruning is carried out in late autumn - the side branches are shortened to 40-50 cm, and weak, damaged, fruit-bearing shoots are also removed. For the next season, 5-7 strong, thick stems are left.
top dressing
The Cumberland variety is high-yielding, so the soil for this raspberry must be enriched with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. 3-4 years after planting, top dressing is carried out regularly 2-3 times per season. The first top dressing is spring - even in the snow you can scatter bird droppings or mullein. Then fertilizers are applied when the raspberries have faded and the berries have begun to set. Suitable compost, humus, herbal infusion, wood ash or a mineral complex of potassium salt and superphosphate. The third time the same composition can be applied after collecting the last berries to maintain the plant.
Preparing for winter
Raspberry Cumberland can withstand frosts down to -40 degrees. However, the bush must be removed from the supports in the fall, bent down to the ground, and covered in areas with little snowy winters. It is important not to allow shoots to grow above 180 cm. Constantly cut shoots become stronger and stronger. Removed, tied in thick bunches, they will easily overwinter.
reproduction
Cumberland raspberries propagate like blackberries - by rooting the tops of the shoots. Growing up, they tend to the bottom, and ask for the ground. If planting material is needed, then some shoots are not tied to a support, but left to grow naturally. In August, the tops of these shoots are covered with earth, rammed and watered. For the winter, they fall asleep with humus or peat to protect them from frost. In the spring, a rooted shoot will give young twigs. Having separated it with a pruner from the mother branch, the bush, together with a clod of earth, is transplanted to a new place.
Among other fashionable garden curiosities, the Cumberland black raspberry is noticeably distinguished by the inconsistency of the opinions of those gardeners who happened to grow this crop on their site. Someone praises her wholeheartedly, someone scolds her just as sincerely ... And the truth, as always, is in the middle.
Description of the variety Cumberland
The Cumberland black raspberry variety was developed in the USA over 100 years ago. It is a spreading deciduous subshrub, reaching 2–2.5 meters in height. In general appearance and in the form of leaves, it resembles ordinary raspberries and blackberries, with which it is closely related. Unlike red raspberries, Cumberland does not form root shoots, but propagates by rooting the tops of the shoots, similar to some varieties of blackberries.
Cumberland does not belong to remontant varieties, but has a rather long period of fruit ripening. Unripe berries are red, hard, sour in taste; when ripe, they become black, soft and sweet, with a characteristic aftertaste, slightly reminiscent of blackberries. It is precisely the taste of these berries that caused numerous debates about the value of this variety.
Fans of the classic red raspberry, with its unique "raspberry" taste and aroma, are likely to be severely disappointed. For the "real" raspberry Cumberland does not look like a drop. It should be compared rather with a blackberry. And here Cumberland will have an advantage, at least due to the “clean” collection of berries without sepals and cores.
Black raspberry Cumberland - fruits close-up
Contrary to popular misconception, the Cumberland black raspberry is not a raspberry-blackberry hybrid. It is a common cultivar of the American black raspberry Rubus occidentalis. It differs from the European red raspberry by the black color of the fruit and the absence of shoots, from the blackberry by the easy separation of the fruit from the fruit.
Advantages and disadvantages (table)
| pros | Minuses |
| Undemanding to care | Too peculiar taste of fruits, "for an amateur" |
| Absence of root growth | Comparative difficulty of reproduction |
| Attractive appearance of plants, original fruits | Tendency to form prickly "jungles" if not tied up in a timely manner |
| Sweet berries with exotic taste | Not very high winter hardiness (relevant for the northern regions and for regions with snowless winters) |
| Long period of harvesting fruits, they do not crumble | |
| Berries are easier to store and transport (compared to regular red raspberries) | |
| Late flowering (in June, after the end of frost) | |
| Good pest and disease resistance |
Site selection, planting, reproduction
When and where to plant raspberries
Cumberland black raspberries can be planted in spring or autumn, at the same time as regular raspberries. This culture does not impose special requirements on the soil. Landing is standard: in pits or trenches filled with well-rotted organic matter. Planting depth and distance between seedlings - as for a simple raspberry or blackberry. It is convenient to grow Cumberland on a trellis, preferably a stationary one, which is installed during planting. One or two bushes can simply be tied to stakes.
When choosing a site, it must be taken into account that this culture is demanding on light and especially on moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging and groundwater that is too close. The absence of root shoots allows you to plant black raspberries close to other plants, it does not spread throughout the area. If there are few seedlings and in the future it is planned to propagate and grow your planting material, you must immediately provide two meters of free space next to the planting for rooting shoots.
Raspberries may need a place to root their shoots - keep this in mind when planting
Step by step boarding process
- At a distance of 2-3 meters from each other, dig grooves about 50 cm deep.
- Fill them up to half with a mixture of garden soil with leaf humus or rotted compost.
- Place the seedlings in 1–1.5 meters, gently straightening the roots.
- Backfill with the remaining organic soil mixture.
- Water generously.
- After soaking up water, mulch with straw, sawdust or fallen leaves.
- Trim seedlings short if this was not done before planting.
Reproduction methods
Due to the lack of root offspring, Cumberland black raspberries have to be propagated by cuttings or apical layering (rooting the tops of the shoots), like some blackberry varieties. At the end of summer, when the shoots of the current year begin to lean towards the ground, they are bent to the dug groove, the tops are pinned down and dug in with earth at the place of the bend. Water regularly, carefully remove weeds. The resulting layering for the winter is insulated by hilling, and in the spring they are transplanted to a permanent place.
The second method of propagation is green cuttings during the period of active growth of young shoots. Green cuttings with leaves are rooted in a greenhouse with constantly high humidity. After rooting and the beginning of growth, they are gradually accustomed to the open air with frequent ventilation, then the shelter is removed.
Rooting cuttings takes about a month, after - they begin to grow
Some fans propagate black raspberries from seeds, however vegetative reproduction much simpler and provides more uniform offspring.
Care rules
Caring for Cumberland is almost the same as caring for ordinary raspberries and blackberries. This variety is quite unpretentious. In the spring, overwintered shoots are tied to a trellis or stakes. Weak and damaged branches are removed and burned. Apply fertilizer, preferably organic.
During the season, weeds are pulled out, the soil is loosened, young shoots are tied up as they grow. Summer pruning of black raspberries is to remove excess shoots. If breeding is not planned, tops that are too long can be shortened for ease of care.
Use organic fertilizers - they are natural and available
Cumberland black raspberries are very moisture-loving crops. Regular abundant watering during the period of growth and ripening of fruits is especially important. An excess of nitrogen and moisture in late summer - early autumn prevents the timely ripening of shoots and complicates the wintering of plants. After harvesting, fruiting branches are cut and burned.
There is an opinion about the supposedly high drought tolerance of Cumberland compared to simple red raspberries. However, for example, in the Middle Volga region, in a normal non-extreme summer, without watering, both local wild raspberries in the forest can survive (in adulthood) and garden varieties red, and Cumberland. But without irrigation, Cumberland's yield and fruit quality are greatly reduced. Ordinary raspberries are more stable in this regard.
The winter hardiness of Cumberland is close to the winter hardiness of the first Russian varieties of remontant raspberries. In the conditions of the Middle Volga region (winter frosts down to -30 degrees for a short time) it successfully hibernates without shelter and without bending down. Winters normally in the Moscow region. In regions with a more severe climate (Urals, Siberia), it requires bending down for the winter and sheltering with snow.
Diseases and pests of black raspberry Cumberland
Theoretically, Cumberland can have all the same problems as regular raspberries. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant them side by side. It is also desirable to avoid close proximity to potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries (to prevent verticillium wilt). In the absence of any special protective measures, the raspberry beetle affects red raspberries more than black ones if they grow within the same garden plot but not close to each other. Compared to common raspberries, Cumberland is considered less resistant to viral diseases.
Table: methods of control and prevention
| Name | Probability of defeat | Prevention | Fighting methods |
| Low |
|
|
|
| verticillium wilt | below average | It is almost impossible to cure a plant. | |
| Viral diseases (anthracnose, mosaic, rust and others) | Medium |
|
Photo gallery: how to recognize diseases and pests
Beetle larvae are no less dangerous - they worsen the taste of berries, reduce yield 
Raspberry beetle can destroy 15% of the crop 
Verticillium wilt is easy to recognize - the plant dries out 
Rust is manifested by rusty-brown spots on leaves, stems, over time, the affected parts of the plant wither and fall off. 
main feature anthracnose lesions - the presence of small light brown spots that expand over time
Harvest and its use
Cumberland black raspberries begin to ripen in July. Due to the long flowering, the fruiting period is extended for a rather long period (longer than that of ordinary raspberries). In particularly favorable conditions (good lighting, fertile soil, regular abundant watering), one bush can produce up to 3–4 and even up to 6 kg of berries. They are suitable both for fresh consumption and for home-made preparations (comotes, jams). When canning, it can be mixed with red raspberries or other berries and fruits.
By mixing black raspberries with other berries, you can make a unique jam
Video: Cumberland variety review
Applications of several great efforts from gardeners require black raspberries. Pruning in the fall, in particular, should not be left unattended. After all, it is from this manipulation that the harvest of the next year largely depends. This procedure is not the easiest and has a number of subtleties. How to prune black raspberries in the fall for beginners will tell the memo below.
Not so frequent inhabitant of our personal plots are these luxurious bushes with dark berries. Which is very sad. Since the culture pleases not only with amazing decorative qualities, but also with a richer harvest than raspberry varieties with classic shades of berries.
The early ripe black raspberry variety, Cumberland, is famous among Russian gardeners. This culture, originally from North America, the Rosaceae family, is a perennial. Its stems can grow up to 3 meters in length, are distinguished by an arcuate shape, equipped with sharp spikes. Lush bushes with thorns and black fruits do not arouse any interest in birds. Which is also an indisputable plus in the cultivation of this crop.
Black raspberries have a lot in common with blackberries. Their berries are very similar. Therefore, in a different way, black raspberries are called blackberry-like raspberries. However, it is possible to distinguish one shrub from the second. In raspberries, it is not difficult to separate the berry from the stalk. Whereas in blackberries it is possible to pluck it only together with the receptacle.
The Cumberland variety attracts in that it does not form root shoots. Why and care for the culture is greatly facilitated. At the same time, the variety has an excellent degree of productivity.
Not only fruits, but also Cumberland bushes are outwardly confused with blackberries. However, the variety is recognized by the following essential characteristics and features:
- the black raspberry variety has powerful (up to 3 cm thick) and elongating shoots (capable of growing up to 3.5 meters);
- the variety is resistant to diseases and pests;
- the plant is frost-resistant (can withstand even severe frosts);
- excellent fruiting for 12-14 years;
- berries have a blackberry flavor;
- no root growth.
Despite the differences, the similarities between blackberries and raspberries are surprising. Especially when it comes to care. For example, autumn processing and pruning of blackberries and raspberries must be carried out without fail.
Nuances of cultivation and care
If you correctly choose a site for planting bushes, then the care and pruning of black raspberries will not cause any significant difficulties. The area should be well lit by the sun and have reliable wind protection.
It is mandatory to prune black raspberries for the winter and tie their stems.
This will eliminate damage during glaciation and minimize the drying of the stems in winter. Black raspberry roots are characterized by deep penetration into the earth's thickness - they do not reach groundwater by 50 cm. Therefore, the culture is not demanding on the type of soil. But does not disdain timely watering and top dressing.
Despite drought resistance and insensitivity to pests, viral diseases can cause great harm to bushes. In view of this, it is not recommended to plant black raspberries where potatoes or tomatoes grew. It is better to plant it away from these places, and also remove it from red raspberries. 
Black raspberries have one property - the formation of strong lateral shoots on one-year stems (up to a meter long). A large part of the crop is concentrated on them. Black raspberries are propagated by apical layering or leaf-bud cuttings.
Otherwise, care for black raspberries is identical to red. Due to the strong development and thickening of the bushes, seedlings are placed at a distance of 1 meter from each other. And since the stems reach 2 m in height or more, then for them a garter to the trellis will not be superfluous. Spring pruning of Cumberland raspberries is designed to shorten the lateral shoots on the stems, which retain up to 6 buds.
Regular pruning of Cumberland black raspberries in the fall will create an excellent decoration from seedlings. suburban area like a living fence. Why is it necessary to fix the stems on the sunny wall of the house or on the fence. In another case, in order to relieve the load from the branches, a wire support is constructed. Why, along the edges of the row, wooden posts are installed (2-2.5 meters high). A strong wire is attached to them at three levels - at 0.5, 1.8 and 2.1 meters.
Types of pruning black raspberries
It is highly undesirable to neglect such a procedure as pruning raspberries. If you forget about it, then the bush will thicken, which will affect the yield next season.
There are several types of this procedure. Each depends on the chosen season and the tasks facing the gardener. For a year, blackberry-like raspberries can be cut up to two times. This is usually done in the summer (pruning black raspberries after harvesting) and in late autumn when the air temperature drops to below zero. It is possible to perform the procedure in the spring.
In the process of summer pruning, performed after fruiting, the apical part of the stems is removed, leaving a part of 1.7 meters below. These manipulations should ensure the accelerated development of young processes. The number of the latter in this case can be 6-8 pieces.
Pruning before frost
What does pruning black raspberries give in the fall before the onset of cold weather? This procedure allows you to make thickets less frequent and get an abundance of berries next year. At the same time, they will retain their excellent taste indicators and will be large. Planting and caring for black raspberries are not so difficult - pruning the bushes in this matter plays a key role. Indeed, it is thanks to this procedure that harmful insects are distracted from plantings, and the appearance of unpleasant diseases is prevented. At the same time, young shoots acquire the necessary reserve of strength for wintering, which helps them not to die before the onset of heat.
Also pruning Cumberland raspberries in the fall is required to eliminate biennial shoots after the fruiting phase. The shoots of the first year remain up to 30-50 cm from the surface of the earth, removing excess length. An important point is the competent preparation of the bushes for the winter. Why are black raspberry stalks fixed at the soil surface (not very low) with metal staples (or wire). Additional cover plants are not required. Since the frost resistance of the variety allows it to endure even not the warmest winter under snow cover.
Important point
Novice gardeners are often interested in how important pruning the Giant black raspberry is in the fall. And is it possible to get by with the processing of raspberry bushes in the summer?
Experts assure that it is the autumn pruning and transplanting of blackberry raspberries before the first frosts that is the most optimal.
However, some gardeners practice stem cutting at the end of summer, when the last crop is harvested. As a result, plants direct all their energy to the formation of new shoots. They are subsequently planned to be used as planting material.
Especially one should not wait for the arrival of late autumn in a situation with remontant raspberries. After all, pruning will not provide special benefits. But diseases and insects will open up great opportunities. Therefore, it is best to start pruning when the last berries are collected. So that the raspberry is not overgrown with much, the shoots should be left as much as they can then be removed.
It is good to leave enough space between the bushes. This will provide better access to the raspberries for sunlight and good air circulation. At the same time, the berries will grow rapidly and acquire an excellent taste. With these tips, novice gardeners can quickly master the procedure for pruning black raspberries. The main thing is to know what, when and why to do it. Bountiful harvest!
Every gardener is looking forward to the onset of spring, because during this period all the "inhabitants" of the plot come to life. Moreover, it becomes possible to improve your garden by replenishing it with new varieties of shrubs and trees. If you are looking for a high-yielding and unusual variety of raspberries, then we offer you to get acquainted with one of the most attractive and popular types, which is called "Cumberland".
This plant is a hybrid of the familiar raspberry and blackberry. The berries have a rich purple hue, close to black, and have an amazing aroma and sweet taste. Shiny, neat and large fruits of the shrub combine the best properties of blackberries and raspberries.
The Cumberland variety is the “brainchild” of American selection, the berries of which contain a huge percentage of minerals, enzymes and vitamins. They are more resilient and dense, compared to ordinary raspberries, so they perfectly tolerate transportation. Ripe fruits can be consumed raw, or used to make compotes, jams, and even processed into juice.
Raspberry Cumberland is not an exotic novelty, it was bred more than 100 years ago (in 1888).
The characteristic features of this black variety are:
- rather long (about 3.5 meters), powerful and thick shoots;
- excellent resistance to diseases and various pests;
- high yield for 14 years;
- excellent frost resistance (can withstand temperatures up to -30 degrees);
- large berries, the weight of which reaches 5 g;
- the yield of one bush is up to 6 kg;
- berries have an amazing aroma and pleasant taste;
- the shrub does not form root shoots.
Landing
This culture is very fond of places that are well protected from the wind, as well as filled with sunlight, so before planting seedlings in the ground, select a site that meets these criteria. Landing should be carried out in early spring.
The following types will be the best soil option for this variety:
- Chernozems (light loamy).
- Loams, as well as sandstones, provided that they are saturated with fertilizers.
If potatoes, or tomatoes and ordinary red raspberries, were previously grown in the selected area, then it is better to refuse to use this area for planting the Cumberland variety. Do not plant seedlings near blackberries.
Before you buy Cumberland raspberry seedlings, you should not only choose the planting area correctly, but also prepare holes by digging them at a distance of up to 2 meters from one another (the minimum parameter is 1.5 m). Fill the prepared pits with humus halfway. The seedlings should be carefully immersed in the recess, straightening the roots, and then covered with earth, which contains complex fertilizers (it is better to mix before planting). When the plant is planted, it should be watered abundantly.
The planting work does not end there, since the seedlings need to be provided with a strong and reliable support. It is better to do it right away, and not wait for the moment when they begin to grow rapidly. It should be remembered that the thickness of the seedling can be 3 cm, and the length is up to 3-4 meters, if not pruned. That is why it is necessary to “make life easier” for the plant as much as possible by constructing a wire support. This is done as follows:
- the beginning and end of the row is “framed” with oak pillars, the height of which is at least 2.3 m;
- a strong wire is pulled onto the poles at a height of 2.1, as well as 1.8 and 1.5 m.
Care
Raspberry Cumberland, like any other plant, needs care. This variety is unpretentious, but periodic pruning will still have to be done. If you ignore this procedure, then the shoots will grow strongly, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
Pruning must be carried out twice during the year, namely at the end of the month of June, as well as in the autumn period (air temperature should be in the positive limit).
When making the first pruning, it is necessary to process those shoots whose length has reached 2 meters. Raspberry tops should be removed at a height of at least 1.7 m. Due to this, about 6-8 additional shoots will actively develop. This process should not be delayed, because the sooner it is done, the faster new side branches will form.
When carrying out the second pruning, 2-year-old shoots that have had time to bear fruit should be additionally removed. Shoots that have “lived” for one year should also be shortened, leaving no more than 50 cm above the ground. After autumn pruning, each Cumberland raspberry bush should contain about 10-12 powerful, well-developed shoots. Weaker and poorly developed branches should be completely removed by cutting them off at ground level.
Pruning must be done slowly and carefully so as not to make erroneous actions and not damage the plant.
In addition to regular pruning, the Cumberland variety also needs to be prepared for wintering. The grown branches of the culture can be carefully fixed with a rag tape to a wire support. You can also fix the branches near the ground using metal posts. When fixing in the first way, make 3 turns around the wire, then wrap the shoot twice. It is very important to do the work efficiently, so that snow and wind loads do not damage the plant.
Reviews
Valentina Grigoryevna, 57 years old: Cumberland learned about raspberries from her daughter. Three years ago, she brought seedlings to the dacha, we planted them immediately, and for a month we regretted the purchase. The plant stubbornly showed no signs of life. But then it came to life, and began to grow quite quickly. We breathed a sigh of relief, and a year later we were surprised - the first large, very dark berries appeared. Now our raspberry is three years old, and this is my favorite berry. The intoxicating aroma and unusual color do not leave indifferent even the neighbor's children. Often I catch them on our site near the miracle raspberry. Amazing yield. We ate last season and spun the jam, despite the fact that only 4 large bushes grow.
Igor Dmitrievich, 49 years old: I am breeding raspberries for sale. Cumberland is perfect for this. The berries do not flow, do not crumple and are instantly sold out. Didn't expect this one to be so good. This year I planted 20 more bushes, and I am sure that I will not regret the money invested. Amazing raspberry, try it, be sure.
Video
Cumberland black raspberries are not often seen in our gardens. However, it is worth taking a closer look at this berry bush, whose fruits look like blackberries. The main distinguishing feature of Cumberland raspberries is the color of the berries - black, shiny with a purple or burgundy hue, each berry weighs about 2 g, the yield per bush is 6-8 kg. The maturation rate is average. But the differences don't end there. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of this black raspberry variety.
Raspberry Cumberland Benefits
- Sweet taste and special aroma.
- Good yield.
- The variety is universal (great for canning and freezing).
- Berries are rich in vitamins.
- Frost resistance - does not require shelter in winter.
- Resistant to pests (raspberry mite).
- The fruits are not interesting to birds.
- The fruits, even ripe ones, do not knead when harvesting.
- Berries do not crumple during transportation.
- Does not give root offspring, does not turn into a weed.
Disadvantages of Raspberry Cumberland
- The presence of large seeds in the fruit.
- The shoots are noticeably more prickly than regular raspberries.
- Cumberland bushes are very dense.
- Bushes need to be tied up or trimmed to facilitate harvesting.
- Propagated only by cuttings and layering.
Planting Raspberry Cumberland
Black raspberries give the maximum yield in the third year after planting. It is important to choose a sunny place for planting Cumberland raspberries, protected from the wind. When grown in the shade, the yield will be much less, the taste of the berries is not so sweet, in addition, the plant in such conditions may be subject to various diseases in the form of rot. Black raspberry grows best on fertile medium loamy and chernozem soils. Despite the fact that the Cumberland variety is quite cold-resistant, planting in a damp area is unacceptable - in winter the raspberry roots will freeze.
When planning a landing, you should pay attention to the unwanted neighborhood. It is not recommended to grow chokeberry and red raspberries next to each other, or in place after red-fruited, bad Cumberland raspberries grow next to blackberries. Do not plant black raspberries after tomatoes and potatoes. It is preferable to plant Cumberland after onions, carrots,.
The most favorable time for planting Cumberland raspberries is spring, after the cessation of possible frosts, however, this variety germinates well when planted in summer and autumn.
Seedlings are planted at a distance of one and a half - two meters from each other in pits 40 - 50 centimeters deep. Humus (compost) mixed with wood ash is added to the planting pits. Then pour about ½ bucket of water and place the seedling. They cover it with earth, gently and not strongly compact the soil and water it again. Then the soil is mulched: compost, peat, rotted sawdust, chopped straw. The thickness is made 7 - 8 centimeters.
Cumberland raspberry care
Due to the fact that the black raspberry bush grows tall with flexible shoots, up to three meters long, it is necessary to install trellises the next year after planting and fan the stems to them. Because the bush is very prickly, such a garter will help to pick berries more comfortably in the future.
In the first year after planting seedlings, raspberries should not be allowed to bloom and bear fruit - you need to cut off the buds so as not to deplete the plants. Do not fertilize with organic matter during the summer. If the raspberries have grown, cut out extra shoots in the fall, leaving 4-5 branches.
- During the growing season, the plant needs watering, and it is important to prevent stagnant water. This means that if the weather is hot, you need to water the raspberries abundantly, but if prolonged rains come (especially with a cold snap), then the soil under the bushes needs to be loosened, after removing the mulch to the side.
- Due to abundant fruiting, Cumberland raspberries need to be fed. Top dressing is applied three times: after the flowers have fallen off, during the ripening of the berries and after the harvest. As a top dressing, mullein is used together with superphosphate or wood ash. Approximate proportions: 1 part mullein to 6 parts water; wood ash - 1 liter per 10 liters of mullein infusion; superphosphate - 50 g per 10 liters of infusion.
- It is not necessary to fertilize abundantly with humus, because raspberries will grow strongly and go into bushes (greens), and not berries.
- In autumn, you need to cut out heavily overgrown bushes, leaving 3-5 shoots on the bush, cut the rest under the root. First of all, two-year-old shoots are removed.
- Before the onset of winter, the branches are untied from the trellis and pressed to the ground.
- In the spring, raspberries are examined, diseased and weak shoots are removed, the rest are again tied to the trellis.
This raspberry variety can be formed by pruning, starting in late June - early July, depending on the region. Shoots that have reached 2 meters to a height of no more than 120-130 centimeters should be shortened. The bush begins to branch due to the growth of axillary buds. Lateral shoots that grow over the summer are then cut off in the second half of autumn, leaving their petioles about 30-40 cm.
Cumberland raspberry propagation
Cumberland raspberries are usually propagated by cuttings and layering, since raspberries do not give root offspring. The cuttings take root in water.
You can also propagate this variety from seeds, but the seeds take too long to germinate.
Thus, the easiest and fastest way to propagate this raspberry variety is to root the tops of annual shoots.
