How to Propagate Boysenberries
Boysenberry plants are one variety of the blackberry family. They grow on trailing or upright canes. Proper care is critical for propagating boysenberries. Blackberry plants are generally prone to viruses, which will destroy the canes; gardeners must train trailing varieties to grow on a trellis to propagate them. Nursery stock boysenberry plants that are certified virus-free are the best plants to use when attempting to propagate these plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soil aerator
- Compost
- Phosphorous
- Sulfur
- Trowel
- Shovel
- Trellis
- Mulch
- Pruning shears
Instructions
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Prepare the soil for the boysenberry plants by aerating it with a soil aerator. Mix manure-free compost into the soil with a trowel. Add in phosphorous and sulfur according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Dig holes in the soil with a shovel to place a trellis for the trailing boysenberry canes. Anchor the trellis with soil. Remove the boysenberry plants from their pots and plant them about 1 inch deeper into the soil than they were planted in their pots. Plant these berry plants in mid-winter in the South or on the Pacific coast; in all other locations, plant the boysenberries in the spring. Space the upright varieties 3 feet apart in rows that are 8 feet apart. Plant trailing plant varieties 5 to 8 feet apart in rows that are 6 to 10 feet apart.
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3
Spread a thick layer of mulch around the plants. Water at least twice a week during the spring and summer, and ensure that the plants have adequate drainage so that they are not sitting in water. Let the canes grow to at least 2 to 3 feet in length.
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4
Bend the tops of the canes over and place them 3 to 4 inches deep in the soil. Push soil around the tops to anchor them in place, and wait until they root. Check just below the soil surface for small, fibrous roots, and gently tug on the newly planted tops to ensure they are firmly anchored. Cut the newly propagated boysenberry plant from the mother plant with pruning shears.
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Choose which canes you will keep for next year's berry harvest, and prune out the remaining canes that have flowered and produced berries once you have harvested the berries. Remove any trailing canes from the trellises, place them on the ground and bury them in a thick layer of mulch to protect them through the winter.
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References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
