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Parentage / Origin
Helen was raised from a cross between Silvan and an unnamed
selection. Both blackberries therefore belong to the blackberry group
which originate in western America and whose varieties are notable for
their rich aromatic flavour, their large long-conical shape and early
ripening.
Cane Management & Yield
The canes of Helen have adequate but more moderate vigour than those
of Adrienne. Therefore it may not be advisable to reduce vigour by
cutting to ground level in spring. Subsequently several methods can be
used. In one system, the plants which are 5’ or more apart in the row,
have their fruiting canes trained onto a two or three-wire trellis and
their new canes trained at a low level but preferably not along the
ground, as this may lead to cane losses when the somewhat brittle canes
are lifted. The fruiting canes are removed after harvest and the next
year’s fruiting canes are then trained to the trellis. In districts
where canes frequently suffer winter injury, damage is reduced by
leaving the canes trailed at a low level until early March, but
otherwise early lifting in August gives higher yields. In another
system, the plants are individually supported by posts, with fruiting
canes tied to the posts and new canes tied to a diagonal string running
between two adjacent posts during the growing season. The latter are
then moved to the post after the fruiting canes have been removed at the
end of the season.
Fruit Quality
The fruits are firm but their skin strength is not quite as good as
Adrienne. They are long and conical in shape and have a bright regular
appearance. Average fruit weights are typically 6.0 to 6.5 gm, similar
to those of Silvan.
Season
The cropping season varies with locality and season. In Kent, Helen
starts to ripen in early July at the same time as Silvan and a week
before Adrienne. It had a short cropping season, in contrast to Silvan.
The variety provides the first supply of blackberries of the season.
Plant Characteristics
Canes of Helen are spine-free, stout and vigorous, typically over 6
feet long. The plant habit is trailing. The fruits are borne on short
stout fruiting laterals which display the fruit well. Trailing
blackberries produce no suckers from the roots and all new primocanes'
arise from the crown of the plant.
Disease Resistance
No serious diseases have been seen on Helen blackberry. Blackberries
do not normally suffer from root rots caused by Phytophthora species,
and varieties such as Helen that originate from the western American
group do not usually suffer from cane canker (Botryosphaeria dodthidea),
which is thought to be a serious disease of Loch Ness, or from purple
blotch (Septocyta ruborum). Routine sprays to control grey mould
(Botrytis cinerea) may be necessary.
Marketing & Use of the Variety
Helen is a dessert blackberry that will provide large, flavoursome
fruit of supermarket quality from early July onwards, or earlier if
grown under protection. The excellent flavour also makes it a suitable
choice for processing, though frozen fruits are liable to turn red or
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