Blackberries

Blackberries are part of the group referred to as brambles, or cane berries. Blackberries are summer-bearing berries that have been traditionally sold at farmers markets, roadside stands, and on the farm as U-pick. They also make an attractive addition to a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. The fruit attracts birds. The brown thrasher, gray catbird, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, and white-eyed vireo commonly nest in blackberry and raspberry thickets. The flowers attract butterflies, notably the western tiger swallowtail. Although the flowers are attractive, blackberries are grown primarily as a fruit crop and are not considered appropriate for ornamental use.

Blackberries will perform best in well-drained loamy soils, with a pH of approximately 6.5 to 7.0, and supplemented with compost or manure. It is best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Growth habits vary among varieties: erect, semi-erect, and trailing. The trailing types are not recommended for commercial production. Erect types tend to be self-supporting that do not need to be trellised and are easier to pick.

Plant once the ground is workable. Dig a hole 12” wide and deep enough so that when set, the stem will be approximately 2” lower than they were in the nursery (you should be able to tell by the dried soil line on the stem). Make a small cone of soil in the middle of the hole and spread roots evenly around cone. Fill hole with soil, tamping firmly as you go. Water well. Blackberries should generally be planted 4’ apart with 8’ between rows, depending on the particular plants growth habit. Do NOT plant in areas where eggplants, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes have been grown in the previous 3 years due to possible infection of verticillium wilt fungus.

Blackberries produce fruit on the previous season’s wood. In mid-summer, snipping the tips off the new canes when they are about 3’ tall will cause them to send out lateral branches that can more than double fruit production the following season. In the spring, remove all but 3-5 strong canes and cut the laterals back to about 8-10”. Each bud on the laterals will bear several clusters of berries. Once the fruit-bearing canes have finished producing, they should be cut back.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BARE ROOT PLANTS
You may be a little startled when you first encounter a ‘bare root’ plant. This is simply a plant that has had the soil washed from its roots to facilitate shipping, and to help prevent the transfer of soil-borne pathogens and pests. Our bare root plants are shipped to you in a dormant state. Unpack your plants and submerge the roots into a bucket of water for 1 hour so the roots will begin to absorb moisture. Be sure to plant them within 48 hours, before the plants break their dormancy.

SHIPPING INFO: Live products have fixed ship dates based on your location. Garden Galleries products will ship to you directly from our supplier via UPS in early spring unless you specify a later ship week in the Order Notes field at checkout. Shipments continue through late spring until product is sold out. Please see individual product pages for more information and any state restrictions.