Blackberries, like raspberries, are a very easy fruit to grow. Once this native berry is ripe, get ready for an abundant harvest, picking every couple of days! Here’s how to grow and harvest blackberries in your backyard.
Basically, there are three types of blackberries: 1. erect thorny blackberries, 2. erect thornless blackberries, 3. trailing thornless blackberries. The erect blackberries are bushes that support themselves. The trailing blackberries have long canes that must be trellised for support.
All blackberries are perennials; the roots come back year after year. However, the top of the plant above the soil is what we call biennial. This means that the canes grow vegetatively for a year, bear fruit the next year, and then die. However, every year the plant sends up new canes to replace those that died! For a great fruit harvest and to avoid a messy plant, pruning is important. (See more below.)
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Growing thornless blackberries in Zone 9
Is there anyone who has some tips for starting blackberries in zone 9?
growing blackberries
Blackberries can be challenging in zone 9. Apache and Arapaho and Navaho are good varieties. Check a site likeberriesunlimited.com
Blackberry Weed Control
I just planted 4 blackberry plants. Can I put down a weed barrier to help keep down weeds?
Thanks
Blackberry Weed Barrier
We would recommend putting down a couple inches of mulch around the plants instead of a weed-blocking fabric. The mulch will inhibit weed growth while the blackberries get established and will also work as a natural compost as it breaks down over time. Don’t mulch right up to the stems of the plants—leave 3–4 inches of space between the stems and mulch.
Blackberrys in Fairbanks Alaska
What is the safest temperature range for blackberrys. I live in Fairbanks Alaska and it gets cold here.
We can usually plant on mother’s day up here and harvest in September
Tomato & blackberry
Last year I planted one blackberry plant at the end of my garden, next to the tomatoes, not realizing the problem that could occur. As we enter this year, I'll move the tomatoes, but what do I need to do to the soil around the blackberry plant to serve it best and to avoid problems?
Many farmers say to avoid
Many farmers say to avoid planting blackberries in soil where tomatoes have been (or are planted)—because the soil itself may carry a diseases to which blackberries are susceptible.
Since you already planted the blackberry in the soil, you’ll just have to hope that it’s avoided disease or infection and see how it does!
There aren’t any special soil requirements beyond well-draining soil so the plant’s feet don’t get wet. Just make sure the plants have a thick layer of mulch to keep out the weeds.
Want to Grow Blackberries
Hi ,
Thanks for a fantastic informative site !
I am from New Delhi,INDIA and am planning to grow blackberries in containers as the summers are pretty harsh here so the container plants can be moved to a cooler spot . I am getting wild blackberry plant (5 yr + ) , few rooted cuttings and unrooted cuttings of apache, triple crown thornless varieties. Can you pls. advise if these can be hrown in our hotter climate at all and also about some more varieties which are most heat tolerant so I can additionally start those too . Also pls. let know the preparation for planting soil suited for the containers to ensure these plants can sustain the shock . I am determined to grow these and am ready to try out any suggestions you might share .
Thanks
making more blackberry plants.
a neighbor gave me a blackberry plant. Is it possible to make more plants from one plant? How?
blackberry cuttings
Root cuttings are best made in the fall by cutting roots the size of a pencil or larger into 3- to 6-inch lengths and storing them at 32°F in moist, not wet, peat moss. These can be planted in mid-winter (depending on your zone) to early spring. However, propogating plants from those of a neighbor can introduce unwanted root-rot organisms or viruses into your soil. It is best to purchase disease-free plants from a nursery.
Blackberries not ripening
there are basically wild blackberry bushes on our beach at Kootenay Lake, BC with a small creek running alongside the bushes. There are lots of berries, but few are ripening, they are still the bright red colour. It was a tremendously hot dry summer this year, so am wondering if the lack of usual moisture is the reason they are not ripening?
berries won't ripen
It could be redberry mite. This condition prevents berries from ripening uniformly and tends to affect late-bearing varieties such as Chester, Triple Crown, Navaho, and Apache. And, yes, it could be due to the hot weather. The bushes probably get plenty of moisture if they are near the creek (and it has not dried up with the lack of rain). We hope this helps.
Tiny bushes
I have eight Arapaho blackberry bushes in my North Carolina yard from 2 to 4 summers old. They are all very small with 1-4 canes, nothing like the brambles I see in pictures, and they don't sucker around at all. Fruit production seemed nice this year considering but I wish the plants were full-sized. Any advice on what might be going on and what I can try? Thanks!
Arapaho berries not like the pictures
This variety needs 400 to 500 hours of chill; is it getting that? It also needs rich organic soil (soil is often the source of the problem for many gardeners). Are you fertilizing? a complete fertilizer, such as 8-8-8 or 10-20-10 or 13-13-13 in early spring as a side dressing in early spring before bud swell. Broadcast evenly around each plant, starting about 9 inches from the stem and extending outward to about 2 feet.
We hope this helps!
old blackberries
My blackberry plant is at last 20 years old. I have ignored it but it keeps growing and producing. I want to know what I need to do to start taking care of it, It has grown under the fence and shoots come out over there too.
old canes want to grow
Give them a good home. Prune all the old canes (dead floricanes) down to the base and discard or burn. This allows room for new canes to grow. At this time, you can thin, too. In the spring, you can prune further if needed to avoid tangling or train to a trellis. Weed. Improve the soil with rich, organic matter. Fertilize in the spring (see two questions above here), and see the general care tips in the article above.
prolonging berries after picking
I have trailing blackberries that I have been picking every few days for about 2 weeks now. They're almost done now, but for future knowledge, what can I do to prolong them after picking? They are delicious right off the vine! But they start to get soft within a few hours, 24 hours later they're just okay, 48 hours later they are unedible, sour, mushy and even have a fermented smell to them. I put them in Rubbermaid berry containers and they go in the fridge immediately after picking. What can I do to make them last longer? Even 3 days would be nice to have compared to what I've had so far.
how to store blackberries
We are so envious of your bounty of berries, Wendy! Nothing beats a blackberry straight from the vine. However, as you know, blackberries are highly perishable and will only last a few days once harvested, even with refrigeration. But they can be stored by canning, preserving, or freezing. Techniques used for freezing blueberries can also be used on blackberries. Click here: https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/celeste-garden/frozen-berries-how-freeze-blueberries
how about a vinegar solution?
Do you recommend the dilute white vinegar wash after they've been picked as a means to getting the berries to stay fresh longer? How do retail suppliers keep them fresh longer? I have raspberries in my fridge now that were purchased 3 days ago and came from California to Michigan before that.
Blackberry
Hello, I have grown a Beautiful bush of Blackberries for years ( with out any thing ) and i get nice plump ones back in Return ,, on a fence ( until i asked a farmer who also grew blackberries ( if you want yummier berries to cut it all off and it will grow back ( Bigger and Better than last year ( more fruit and yummier fatties ) so like a Dummy i did just that ( why do i listen to any one ? ( its now about a foot off the grown ( no leafs or any thing , ( did i kill it ? I feel sooo stupid ( I will never listen to that Grower again on pruning , ( His were so FAT and more YUMMIE than mine ( please help ( did i kill it ??? ( I have one more ( that thankfully I didnt do any thing to it ) please i need help , ( I think I really did it this time ) :O(
when and what to prune
All is not lost, Patty. Your blackberries should come back. Pruning is a good thing; it’s a question of when to do it (and you do not indicate when you cut yours). Read the information, especially about pruning. Then leave your canes alone. Maybe add some organic material (never hurts).
blackberry harvest India
Hello.
I want to grow blackberry plant in orchard in place in India.
Where climate is dry. With average 31• and in summers 35-36• can I grow in these conditions.
Regards
Yes you can grow Blackberries in arid lands.
Ramiz,
I highly recommend doing a little research on Israeli techniques for Drip Irrigation. If they can grow Blackberries in the desert lands, you can grow them where you are!
Here's one PDF of Thousands. It may be possible to find this in some other languages as well, by contacting the Milken Innovation Center.
In the following URL, ALL <+ > should be REMOVED. {That is "LESS THAN SYMBOL PLUS SIGN SPACE GREATER THAN SYMBOL"}
http+://milken<+ >innovation<+ >center.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Leeors-project.<+ >pdf
No berries
First time in 6 years, no berries. Cut them back in early spring. Fed them rose food as suggested by nursery. But only a small handful of berries. Last year, I did the same thing as this year and they were LOADED... What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any help you can give me. Linda
No Blackberries
Hi Linda,
There are a few reasons why your blackberries are not developing correctly. First, it’s always a good idea to do a soil test to see if there are any nutrient deficiencies, despite having given the soil rose food. Second, you need pollinators (native bees, european honey bees, flies, moths, butterflies) to pollinate your blackberry bushes. If you use any herbicides or pesticides, discontinue their use to make sure you aren’t hurting the pollinators. Lastly, your blackberry bushes may have become infected with a fungal disease, which can affect the production of fruit without showing any other outward signs. Unfortunately, there are no cures for these diseases, so wait until next year to see if your berry production is simply having an off year. We hope this helps!
Thornless Blackberries
I bought a thornless blackberry plant from home depot several years ago. Each year there have been many berries on this plant but I have yet to get one that even resembles a sweet berry . It does not matter how long I wait to pick them they are terrible tasting. Thankfully in another area of my yard I have many regular blackberries which I harvest every year for pies and jam . I just thought it would be nice if I could get all thornless berries growing it would be much easier on my hands and arms since the thorned type seems to see me coming and latches on to me with a vengeance.
Any suggestions regarding the thornless berries?
Thanks
thornless blackberry bitterness
This is a pretty common complaint—er, observation—among thornless blackberry growers. The taste is typically not pleasing, unless the berries are “dead ripe,” at the peak of ripeness (think falling off the cane into your hands). Do you know which variety you have? According to some growers, ‘Osage’ is “superior” tasting compared to other thornless varieties, including ‘Kiowa’ which has been described as good, if dead ripe. You’re lucky to have another berry patch! Perhaps you could combine some from each into your pies and “hide” the taste?? We hope this helps!
Blackberry Pie;
oh, you have Blackberries for jams and Pie? great; I will be over for the Blackberry Pie!; heh-heh; actually I might make Blueberry Muffins! :)
About how long does it take
About how long does it take the blackberries to turn from red to black?
Ripe Blackberries
Hi Cassie,
Unripe blackberries are red, turning black when they are ready to be harvested. Blackberries are ripe at different times, depending on your region, but generally are ready in June (now) in the southern states, and in July in the northern states. Thanks for writing!
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