Difference between blackberries and raspberries

Sweet, juicy and aromatic berries are a favorite treat for both children and adults. The appearance of most of them is familiar to us almost from infancy and evokes persistent associations with grandmother's garden. However, there are fruits that you can hardly find on the average summer cottage. We are talking about a blackberry, which has some resemblance to ordinary raspberries. However, the first berry is considered by many to be rare and even exotic, while having a very vague idea about it. In this article, we will tell you how blackberries differ from raspberries.

Definitions

Blackberries - an edible black berry that grows on a low, thorny shrub. Outwardly it resembles a raspberry. In the process of ripening, the berries first acquire a brownish, and then a deep red hue. Ripe blackberries have a vibrant black and purple color. The homeland of the berry is considered to be North America, where many species of wild shrubs of this type were discovered in the 19th century. Culture has become widespread in the country, back in the 40s of the last century, about 20 thousand hectares of land were planted with it. In other states, large industrial plantations of blackberries do not exist. In Russia, the berry grows mainly in the forests of the middle zone, sometimes it can also be found in personal plots.

Raspberry is a subshrub of the Rosaceae family with sweet aromatic red berries. Often divorced in summer cottages. In the wild, it grows in forests, clearings and river banks. The homeland of raspberries is Asia. Then it began to gradually spread across the Mediterranean, took root in Europe and Siberia, North America, and then around the world. At the moment, the berry does not grow except in deserts, in humid jungles and in the northern tundra. Wild raspberries were incredibly popular in Russia due to their beneficial properties and sweet taste. The first plantations of this shrub were laid by Yuri Dolgoruky in the distant XII century. By the end of the 20th century, there were already more than 600 varieties of garden raspberries in the country. Today it is grown in all climatic zones of Russia.

Comparison

Many people naively believe that the easiest way to distinguish berries is by color. But this is a misconception. After all, the fruits of unripe blackberries have a red tint. And some raspberry varieties form black berries. Thus, it is not worth judging the variety of the plant by the shade of the fruit. It is much more useful to pay attention to the appearance of the shrub. Blackberry twigs are strong and large, their height can be up to three meters. Whereas raspberry stems are usually half the length. The thorns of the blackberry bush are very strong. Outwardly, they resemble the thorns of roses. The concentration of thorns on raspberry twigs is an order of magnitude higher. At the same time, the thorns are not so dense and look a little fuzzy.

Another difference between blackberries and raspberries is that during harvesting, the first berry is removed from the receptacle with great difficulty. Often, the nucleus breaks off with the fetus. Raspberries are easily separated from the receptacle. Its berries are empty inside. Blackberries are not hollow, they have a white core. Compared to raspberries, its fruits are less sweet and have a specific taste. The yield of the blackberry bush is much higher, the berries are large. Wild raspberries, on the other hand, are often small. In Russia, it grows almost everywhere. The likelihood of encountering a blackberry is quite low. Raspberries usually ripen in early or mid-July. It will be possible to feast on blackberries only closer to August, or even in its full swing. But the berries will ripen until October.

Let's summarize what is the difference between blackberries and raspberries using a comparison table.