How to Plant Thornless Blackberry Bushes

Thornless blackberry bushes are wonderful since they are not scary to work with. There is no poking or pricking and they are safe to let even little children near. Blackberries are very good for you, and they taste sweet as well. Growing a blackberry bush will allow you to have all the blackberries you desire right in your own yard. They also make wonderful jams and jellies.

Things You'll Need

• Thornless blackberry bush

Instructions

1. Blackberry bushes should be planted in growing zones 5 to 9. If you don't know which growing zone you are in, call your local nursery or check an online gardening site (see Resources).

2. Place the blackberry bush in an area where it will get full sun to partial sun. Dig a hole slightly larger than the bucket that your blackberry bush comes in. Water the hole well enough that there is a pool of water in the bottom of it.

3. Place a scoop of organic fertilizer in the pool of water. Organic fertilizer can be purchased at your local nursery or home-improvement stores.
   If you have old banana peels, apple cores, or orange peels, place them in the bottom of the hole as well. These make for very good food fertilizers and they are far less expensive.

4. Remove the blackberry bush from its packaging bucket and place it in the watered hole. Replace the dirt you have dug out and pack the dirt firmly around it.

5. Water the blackberry bush well. Keep the soil well hydrated for a few days until the bush gets established. Keeping it watered will also help to prevent air pockets that can form in the dirt and dry out the roots.

Tips & Warnings

• Blackberry bushes are drought-resistant and they will adapt to almost any soil type. Thornless blackberry bushes grow to between 3 and 6 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide.

Resources

• Growing Zones