Blackberries may bring back memories of summertime and blackberry pie. They are a sweet and delicious berry that is simple to grow and even simpler to enjoy. Are you ready to try your hand at growing blackberries? Then take a look below at some helpful tips on growing blackberries. Bring those memories back and start growing some blackberries of your own!
Tips for Growing Blackberries
How to plant blackberries:
Before you start planting, choose a site that has full sun. The soil should be rich and drains well. When planting, place bushes 6 feet apart. If planting in rows, plant each row at least 8 feet apart. Crowding is never a good idea when planting any type of berry bush.
Dig the hole about 8 inches deep, add the plant, and gently cover it with soil. There is no need to fertilize at this time, just do a generous initial watering.
How to grow blackberries in containers:
Growing blackberries in containers is possible, but you need to use a sizable container. Only plant one bush per container, and make sure you can dig a good 12-18 inches deep and the width of the pot is at least 18 inches. Also, be sure there is proper drainage.
How to care for blackberries:
You want to be sure you keep weeds at bay. You can do this by picking weeds when you see them as well as covering the area around the bushes with mulch. Water your blackberry bushes with at least 1 inch of water per week, and always check to make sure the soil is moist. Prune away any branches or greenery that appears to be dead or diseased.
General tips for producing a good crop:
Light netting can be used to protect the bush from animals that may want to nibble on it. When you see shoots come out of the bush, go ahead and remove them. This will help the bush focus its energy elsewhere.
If your blackberry bush can use a boost, you can fertilize 3-4 weeks after planting. A basic garden fertilizer will do. Just follow package directions.
When and how to harvest blackberries:
Blackberries are ready to pick when they are a deep bluish black, full, and fall easily from the branch. Pick often and when you do, leave the green top intact as much as possible. Don’t be concerned if you don’t see blackberries the first year you plant, as they may take several years to appear.
How to divide blackberries:
Blackberries have shallow roots that love to spread out. Be sure you always plant the bushes several feet from each other. Should you find yourself needing to divide the plants, pull up the plant gently so to not disturb the root structure. Remove as much of the root as possible and transplant according to the planting directions above.
Once you harvest your blackberries, you can eat them fresh, freeze them, or even can them. They are great for jellies, jams, pies, and so much more. So give these tips a try, and in no time, you too can be enjoying fresh blackberries.
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Muhammad Iqbal says
How deep are the roots of black berries bushes.
Rebecca thornton says
When do l prune my blackberries
vicki depp says
What kind of mulch do I get for under my blackberries
Chef Garfie says
Mine are next to Loblolly pines. That’s the type pine they make landscaping mulch from.
Hikerdudette says
Pine needles work great for mine.
Pamela says
Since blackberries love nitrogen on that taking some coffee grounds out spreading them around every once in awhile really helps with production. I’m sure of this because…… I have some blackberry plants I have never put coffee grounds on…. and the difference between the ones that have had the grounds and the ones that haven’t is very discernible…. I have even found that there is no insect infestation or problems on the ones with the ground in the soil but the other ones seem to fight with various leafchewing bugs all the time… just a suggestion.
Pamela Kissinger says
Thank you so much! I appreciate your response. Have a great summer!
JoAnna says
I can’t help laughing as I read this because we have blackberries in the yard that have been there for centuries. Decades of neglect, mean treatment, hacking them down and we get a crazy crop out of them! I’m not much of a fan, but this yea,we picked enough To make blackberry jelly, which was a first for me. I’m not crazy about the flavor from the seeds but the jelly removes the seeds so it’s not too bad. If I loved them, I know I’d have none but because I dont care ,we are overrun!
Chef Garfie says
I’m with you on that. I have a 1/2 acre of wild blackberries. 8ft. between rows and 12 to18 inches between plplan; someone forgot to tell blackberry bushes.
They are dense, intertwined bushes with vines, trees, fall logs, and weeds. They grow on a hillside over an aquifer. I do lite broad cast fertilizing with all purpose veggie stuff just after the temperatures hit 65F. 30 days later another lite broadcast. Much bigger berries this year.
I have also noticed the bushes here seem to grow best over fall tree trunks and limbs. Much forest debride mixed in, as they are next to Loblolly pine grove with maple, pecan, and oak trees.
I am into hay bale gardening this year. Best results of my life this season. I believe in zero landscaping princples and God design and them applied to the garden. (I’m really lazy!) If left to their own and not fuzzied , everything does well for me.
I use little pesticide but, had to treat tomatoes for fungus. Heavy rain here.
Our dollar store gets wire cages in 8× 6 ft. panels for box storage. The box pick leaves the cage sides behind and they go to trash. I get them and use over the plants. All plants except those that produce subterranean.
This keeps the birds out, most rabbits, cats, dogs, bears, etc. There is no easy escape so they don’t dine there. They can’t reach the fruits. The vining plant use the cage parts as trillus. My melons don’t have a flat side, are same color all around, and no flat side. They also do not mold.
Racoons — they think the cages are a jungle gym!