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How blackberries grow: pollination to blooming
Friday 26th of April 2024
The blackberries of Beekers Berries are known for their large, deep-black, and glossy appearance. To ensure that these fruits become so large, glossy, and juicy, it is important that the flowers are pollinated. Without pollination, the plants would produce many small and misshapen fruits. While the blackberry plants in our greenhouse are in full bloom, this is the perfect time to take a look at this process. Watch our video on Instagram or Facebook. We are happy to explain how we take care of pollinating all the flowers and how our blackberries grow.
Flying friends
At our cultivation sites, we rely heavily on natural pollinators. Bees and bumblebees fly from their hives to the sweetest smelling flowers in the vicinity. Therefore, it’s important to strategically place the hives so that the pollinators remain close to our plants. Fortunately, soft fruit flowers are highly fragrant, attracting bees and bumblebees to visit them eagerly. Beekeepers also enjoy having their bees visit soft fruit plants because the sweetness of the plants results in delicious honey produced by the bees.
Bees or bumblebees
In spring, you’ll primarily find bumblebees at our cultivation sites. Bumblebees are much more effective than bees at lower temperatures. A bumblebee also spends much more time on a flower and thus only needs to visit a flower two to three times. Bees, on the other hand, visit flowers two to three times as frequently!
As the weather warms up, usually from early May onwards, the blooming process also accelerates significantly. Therefore, in addition to bumblebees, bees are also employed. Bees live in larger numbers in a hive, allowing for rapid pollination. Furthermore, bees are also highly active at higher temperatures.
In control
Not only the scent of the flowers and the number of pollinators play a role in the quality of pollination, but also the humidity of the environment is influential. When the humidity is too high, the flowers become slightly wet, making it difficult for bees and bumblebees to pollinate them effectively. Conversely, when the humidity is too low, the pollen becomes too dry, resulting in decreased pollination quality. That’s why we closely monitor the humidity levels with modern equipment. In the greenhouses, we can influence humidity through humidification and ventilation. In the tunnel greenhouses, sprinklers beneath the crops ensure that humidity can be controlled without getting the flowers or fruits wet.
Blackberries start to grow
After fertilization has occurred, the ovary begins to grow. The ovary swells, forming small round berries. Initially, they are green, similar to the inside of the flower, but as they swell, they first turn red and then deep black. Similar to raspberries, which are part of the same family as blackberries, you can still recognize the stamens as the “hairs” on the berry after the growth process.
Ready for the taste sensation?
With a good balance of sweet and tart, our blackberries offer a delightful taste experience. At Beekers Berries, we strive for nothing less than the very best for those who want to enjoy our blackberries. Our meticulous cultivation methods ensure that our blackberries grow in optimal conditions, resulting in each berry being packed with flavour and nutrients.
Craving more?
In addition to blackberries, at Beekers Berries we also grow strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, red currants, and specialties. These are cultivated with warmth, respect, love, and expertise so that you can enjoy our soft fruit to the fullest all year round.
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Recipes with blackberries
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