What I Need to Know About Growing Blackberries
The blackberry plant produces succulent berries that can be eaten fresh or made into jams and jellies. The blackberry's root systems lives as a perennial with biennial cane production. Each year new canes grow from the root system and spread rapidly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Location
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Plant blackberry plants in full sunlight for abundant fruit production. Blackberry plants should never be planted in an area where previous crops of strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, caneberries, peppers or eggplant have grown because they suffer from the same pests and diseases that afflict blackberries, according to Oregon State University.
Warnings
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Avoid planting blackberries in water-logged soil. The plant does not tolerate a wet root system; if the roots sit in water for several days the blackberry plant will usually die. If the planting location has wet soil, consider constructing a raised bed for the blackberry plants.
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Time Frame
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Plant blackberries in the early spring, as soon as the soil thaws. Fertilize the plants in the spring using a general purpose fertilizer, such as 10-20-20 fertilizer. Beginning in mid-June, make sure that the blackberry bushes receive 1 inch of water per week so they can produce ample fruit. Continue watering until harvest time.
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References
- Oregon State University: Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden
- North Carolina State University: Growing Blackberries in North Carolina
- The University of Maine: Growing Raspberries and Blackberries
- University of Kentucky: Growing Blackberries & Raspberries in Kentucky
- Oregon Berries: Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden
Resources
- Photo Credit blackberries image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
