Blackberries 2

The natural antioxidant 'phenols' in blackberries have been found to have antioxidant properties comparable to fresh grapes and red wines. Interestingly, further studies have shown that blackberries, while having the fourth highest anti-oxidant concentration, are SECOND in actual chemical effectiveness in preventing oxidation in cells. Most of this anti-oxidant activity is in the juicy portion Laboratory tests also suggest some berries may reduce the buildup of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, a contributor to heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis. And blackberries were tested as having the highest LDL inhibitory effect. Whether frozen berries have the same protective effect has not been studied - but it would be reasonable to suppose they do. The question of whether frozen berries would give the same effect is as yet unanswered. The phenolic composition of the same berries before and after freezing would have to be tested, as well as testing for the antioxidant activities of frozen berries. But if the antioxidants are still active, it would mean the outstanding power of blackberries' antioxidants are available year round, not just in it's normal brief summer season of fresh fruit. The blackberry is an aggregate fruit composed of numerous drupelets that are fleshy with hard seeds. Blackberry fruit differ from the raspberry fruit in that the core (receptacle) of the berry becomes part of the edible berry when picked. The receptacle remains on the cane of the raspberry when picked, resulting in a hollow berry. As a boy hunting in the woods of Tennessee, I never thought that I would someday praise those thorny culprits that tore my clothes, ripped my flesh and taught me to curse proficiently.
Blackberries
But the blackberry is probably the easiest to culture, most productive, most versatile fruit in existence. These claims are easily substantiated when one considers the vim and vigor of wild plants that receive no culture. Originally, when North America was settled, there were only a few distinct species of blackberries, and since the land was heavily forested, they were not abundant. As forests were cut and cleared for pasture and meadow, blackberries spread and there were opportunities for seedlings of different species to grow side by side. There are generally three types of blackberry plants: erect, semi-erect, and trailing. Erect blackberries tend to have square-like stems, while trailing types tend to be more round. Erect cultivars have arched, self-supporting canes that can generally be grown without support, particularly if they are topped during the summer (see "Training and Pruning," p. 3). Trailing types need to be trained to a trellis. Semi-erect cultivars fall in between but generally respond best to trellising. Blackberries grow well in most types of soils but prefer deep, well-drained sandy loams with a pH of 6.5-7.5. In soils above 7.5 pH, plants can develop iron chlorosis. Avoid sandy soils that do not hold water well. Good drainage, however, is important because standing water can do permanent damage to blackberry roots. Many growers of primocane fruiting raspberries have found that a temporary trellis is necessary during the fall harvest season. One system that works well consists of T-shaped wooden or metal posts approximately 7 feet long with 3-foot crossarms. The end of each crossarm contains a screw eye or other device that holds a length of bailing twine, which is cheap and disposable yet strong enough to hold canes erect temporarily.













































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