Planting Blackberries

Space your Blackberries 5-6′ apart. If planting in rows, space rows 5-8ft apart. Amend the soil if necessary to make sure it is rich, moist but well-drained. Blackberries like slightly acidic soil.

Plant on a slight mound and at ground level. Mulch heavily with straw or bark.

Trailing blackberries should have a trellis or other support system for the canes. Erect blackberry bushes need no trellising.

Soil

Slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Plants do not generally do well in clay soils. Elevated beds will help with drainage.

Keep a good layer of mulch over the root zone at all times. This will feed the plants, conserve water moisture, and keep weeds down.

Water

1″ of water each week either from rain or from irrigation. Make sure soil is well-draining.

Temperature and Humidity

Blackberries need a cool period during dormancy to germinate. They are very suited to the climate in Southeast Georgia for the winter months. Hot and dry should not be a problem as long as you make sure your Blackberries are well hydrated.

Fertilizer

Fertilize in the spring just as they are breaking dormancy. A general all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer with minors is suggested. Fertilize again in the fall with organic fertilizer or an application of manure and compost.

Blackberry Varieties

Blackberries are categorized by how they grow:

Erect blackberries grow upright and do not require trellising.

Trailing blackberries have canes that trail like vines and need a support system or trellis to keep them under control.

Thornless Blackberries are just that- they have no thorns.

Harvesting

Harvest Blackberries when they are ripe. Once you pick them, they will not ripen further, so careful timing is key to getting the perfect blackberry.

Pruning

Blackberry canes are considered biennial while the roots are classified as perennial. 2nd-year canes after fruiting should be trimmed away after harvest.

For a newly established shrub that hasn’t produced fruit, you should prune the tips to about 3ft tall in the summer. This will encourage new canes to branch out and will maximize your yield. Once these canes produce fruit, they should be removed to the ground after the fruit harvest.

Also in February, right before the emergence of new growth, remove any canes that may have been damaged by the winter and thin out the rest of the canes to 4-6 of the strongest ones.

How to Grow Blackberries in Pots

Blackberries can be grown in pots, but you might want to choose Erect varieties that can be managed in size. Or you can use draft cultivars. Choose large containers and use a soil that is moist but well draining.

UGA ARTICLES – Blackcberries & Raspberries