A blackberry consists of many small pearls, which in the botanical sense are actually small stone fruits. When ripe, they are all black in color. White pearls in between dance out of line and are a sign that something has gone wrong.
Why do blackberries have white pearls?
White pearls areSymptoms of sunburn, caused by excessive sunlight at the location. The affected partial fruits arepermanently damaged, no longer become black and no longer aromatic-sweet. Fruits with a few white pearls remain edible raw and can also be processed.
How exactly does the sun damage blackberries?
It is the high UV content in sunlight that is responsible for fruit damage. TheUV rays scald the fruits because the cell sap is heated. They turn white or light brown and, after a slight delay, they also harden. The risk of sunburn is increased in shadeless locations when the weather is hot, dry and sunny.
Which blackberries are particularly affected by sunburn?
There is no big, notable difference between the individual varieties. However, sunburn primarily affects bushes shortly before harvest time, as ripening fruits turn black. Black color absorbs a particularly large amount of radiation.
Can I prevent sunburn with a shady location?
Blackberries, especially cultivated varieties, need a sunny and warm location so that they grow properly and bear sweet fruit. Wild varieties are less demanding and can also tolerate partial shade well. Pay attention to the following when growing:
- Plant as east, north or west of trees as possible
- Make sure the trellis is aligned north-south
- tie the annual shoots at the top as “shade providers”
- tie several shoots to the wire (increases the shadow effect)
If days with temperatures above 30 degrees are announced, you can also temporarily protect your blackberries with a shade sail.
Can I move blackberries in the pot on hot days?
Yes, it makes sense to take potted blackberries that bear ripening fruit out of the blazing sun. However, they should only leave their usual place, where they otherwise grow well,temporarily until the weather becomes more bearable again. The new place should not be too shady and not too cool so as not to interrupt the ripening process.
Are completely white blackberries also found?
The blackberry is a collective drupe that consists of many small stone fruits. It may be that many parts of a fruit are sunburned, but hardly all of them at the same time. If you only see pure white fruits on a blackberry bush, then you are most likely dealing with anew varietythat bears white blackberry fruits. The variety'Polarberry' is popular in this country
Tip
Raspberries can also have white pearls
The raspberry is also a stone fruit like the blackberry. Although it is not black, it can heat up significantly on hot days and develop white segments. If you plant raspberries and blackberries together, remember to protect both from too much sun.
