How to Grow Blackberries in a container
Don't believe it when people tell you, you can't grow certain things in containers. I have grown a lot of things in containers-everything from Rose Bushes to Beets. If you have the right size pot you can put a tree in it! I like container gardening because the container actually helps protect your plant from certain garden pests. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- a ten gallon Pail or other planter at least two feet deep
- gravel or small rocks
- Miracle-Gro nursery select potting mix
- a Trellis or some other support
- Blackberry seedlings or suckers (order from Gurneys.com)
- Optional Miracle-Gro nursery select all purpose plant food
- Optional decorative rocks or sea shells
Instructions
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Pick out a suitable container. Think about where your going to put your Blackberries. If they will be on your porch pick something that matches everything else on your porch. Home Depot has a variety of decorative planters in many colors too. Make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom. If the container you picked doesn't have holes in the bottom I recommend drilling a few, moldy soil will kill your plant.
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Once you've picked your container and where it will go you can start filling it. Cover the bottom of your container with small rocks or gravel. This step helps to ensure any extra water your plant gets can pool at the bottom and not soggy up your soil. Soggy soil turns into moldy soil and then your plant will die. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Especially if your using any kind of coaster under your plant to protect your deck. Coasters often keep the extra water from escaping and these rocks allow the water to escape the soil.
Now add Miracle-Gro potting mix to a depth of about eight inches. Put your Blackberry seedling in the middle and fill the rest of the potting soil around it. If you order your plant from Gurneys.com they send you detailed planting instructions they tell you exactly what's best for the plant you order.
If you think you will forget to water your plant you can cover the surface of the soil with decorative rocks, or sea shells. This will also keep squirrels from digging in your pots. Glass rocks will help reflect more light if the area is a little shady. Putting rocks on top prevents water loss by evaporation. Condensation builds up on the undersides of the rocks and drips back into the soil. Put enough rocks so that you can't see the soil or you will invite gnats and fruit flies. Put more rocks than I have in my picture! -
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When your plant grows a little taller it might need a trellis to support it. If you have no space restrictins and you chose a thornless variety you can let it 'wander' They have very ornimental supports at garden stores that let you really be creative.
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If you follow my instructions you should only have to water your plant once a week. If it's a really hot day I like to go out and mist the plants with a spray bottle. Only use the Miracle-Gro plant food once a month until you see flower buds. After you get flower buds you can use the plant food when ever you water your plant. The flowers turn into the fruit so don't pick the flowers no matter how excited you get.
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I think it is truly amazing to watch these white flowers swell up into green berries that slowly fill with color until they are the dark blackberries we reconize. The berries I had this year were almost two inches long. Not much work for a plant that will give you more berries each year. Growing in containers means you can cut it back and put it in your basement over winter, allowing fresh berries even in colder climates.
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