There are three types of blackberries: trailing, erect, and semi-erect.
Erect blackberry is a hardy, stiff-caned plant that may or may not need support depending on the variety.
It tends to spread from new canes emerging from the roots.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Semi-erect blackberry types have vigorous, thick, and arching canes that emerge from the crown of the plant.
They are typically the latest blackberries to fruit in the summer.
Blackberry plants have two distinct types of canes: first-year growth called primocanes, and second-year growth called floricanes.
Many blackberries produce no fruit on primocanes but on floricanes, which produce flowers and fruit and then die.
While blackberry plants have a lifespan between 15 and 40 years, individual canes arebiennial.
Where to Plant Blackberry
Plant blackberries in full sun and moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
Most varieties get relatively large, so be sure you have room for them before planting.
Because blackberry is a big, vigorous plant, it is well-suited to grow in a patch by itself.
Thorny blackberry can serve as a fence or physical barrier when grown around the edges of a property line.
Avoid planting it near driveways or walkways.
With their lush green foliage and white flowers, blackberries also make a charming addition to an edible landscape.
When planting bare-root blackberries, dig a hole that is large enough to accommodate the roots.
Place the plant in the hole, backfill with original soil and gently tamp it down.
Water it deeply and thoroughly.
Blackberries can be planted in rows.
Space plants 5 to 6 feet apart.
If planting more than one row, leave at least 10 feet between rows.
Provide a trellis or support for trailing varieties in the second year.
Other than that, they require very little maintenance.
Soil and Water
Blackberries prosper in moist, well-drained soil that isrich in organic matter.
If your soil has high clay content, amend it liberally with organic matter before planting.
The idealsoil pHis between 5.6 and 6.5.
Newly planted blackberries need consistent moisture so their roots get established.Mulchingaround the plants helps to retain soil moisture.
Established plants need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
Repeat this utility about six weeks to two months later.
Pruning
To keep blackberry plants productive and manageable, prune them twice a year.
This is called tip pruning; it encourages your blackberry plants to produce more side brancheswhich means more fruit.
The second pruning happens in late summer.
Remove any canes that have produced fruit; those canes won’t produce fruit again the following year.
Pollination
Blackberries are mostly self-pollinatingthey produce fruit without the need for pollinating insects.
And you only need to plant one cultivar to produce blackberries, as the plants to not require cross-pollination.
Potting and Repotting Blackberry
Because of their size, blackberries are ideally planted in the garden.
but planting them in containers is a fallback if the soil is poor or there is no other space.
Erect blackberry cultivars work best for container growing.
Fill it with well-draining potting mix or soil.
Keep in mind that container plants need more frequent watering than inground plants.
Keep the plants well-pruned or they will get out of hand.
As a protective measure, youll need to winterize the pots.
Remove the insulation as temperatures warm up in the spring.
Potential pests are stink bugs and raspberry crown borers.
For those reasons it is not recommended to propagate blackberries.
Also, keep in mind that many cultivars areprotected by plant patentsand thus are prohibited from being propagated.
Shiny berries are flavorless and sour.
To pick, gently hold the berry between your thumb and index finger.
Depending on the number of berries on the plant and the weather, harvest blackberries every four days.
It was released in 1956 and named after Marion County in Oregon.
The conical-shaded fruit ripens in July.
The trailing canes grow 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
It grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide and produces one large summer crop of berries.
Zone 5-9
‘Prime-Ark Freedom’
This variety is considered a low-chill blackberry for warm climates.
The heat-tolerant bush-jot down plants grow 4 to 8 feet tall and spread 2 to 3 feet.
All blackberry types produce a small crop in the second year.
In the third year, the plants move into full production mode.
The fruits of cultivated blackberries are larger and juicier and they have fewer seeds thanwild blackberries.
Plus, there are thornless varieties.
