How to Grow Blackberries

A guide to growing Blackberries in gardens, allotments and containers

Blackberries

Family/Latin Name	Rosaceae - Rubus fruticosus
Type of Plant	Hardy Perennial Cane
Suitable for	Gardens, Allotments, Large Containers
Recommended Forms	Canes
Jump to:- Pruning/Training \| Pests & Diseases

Growing Blackberries - Details

Site and Soil	Prefer sun or partial shade, sheltered out of strong winds Tolerant of soil types Suitable for large tubs and containers
Plant Dimensions	Height: Trained - 1.8m/6ft - Spread: 45cm/18"
Yield	Mature plants will give +4.5kg/10lb of fruit per year depending on the cultivar and height allowed
Time between planting and harvesting	1-year-old plants: Produce the season after planting
Planting Time	Best: Late October to Mid November Alternative: Late November to March (soil conditions permitting)
Number of plants needed for pollination	1
How to plant - Open ground	Space plants 1.8m/6ft apart in rows (depending on variety) If growing more than one row, space the rows 1.8m/6ft apart
How to plant - in containers	1 plant per container size minimum 30cm/1ft wide x 30cm/1ft deep. Make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Place a 2.5cm/1" layer of stones or crocks in the bottom and cover with enough soil or compost so that when you place the tree in the container, the original planting depth (which you should be able to see on the stem) 5cm/2" below the top of the container. Fill the container with soil or a loam based compost within 5cm/2" of the top of the container. Firm well and water in.

	Aftercare	Open Ground - The plants will need pruning, supporting and training (see below) Every year in late January apply a 5cm/2" mulch of well rotted manure or compost to the surface of the soil surrounding the bush to a radius of at least 30cm/12". Water when necessary, especially as the fruit begin to colour. Remove any suckers which are growing too far away from the plant. Containers - After the first season of fruiting, it is best to carefully remove some of the soil from the container and replace it with fresh compost every year in January. Do this very carefully so as not to damage the roots. water when necessary. General - Protect from birds with netting. Once the fruit begin to swell, keep well watered, watering the base of the plants only to avoid the risk of fungal diseases.
	Harvesting	Fruit for eating are best left to completely ripen on the tree. Harvesting takes place between late August and September depending on the cultivar. Once the berries turn very dark, leave for a few more days before harvesting. Pick individual berries as and when they ripen including the white middle "plug" or cut with stalks using scissors. try not to handle the berries too much when picking.
	Propagation	Tip Layering is the easierst method. At the end of July choose a low-growing long cane and carefully bend it down to the ground and bury the tip in the soil about 15cm/66" deep. It will root over the winter and be ready to sever from the parent plant in Spring. Cut off the rooted portion from the main plant with about 30cm/12" of the old cane attached.

How to Prune Blackberry Bushes and how to Train Blackberries

Training Blackberry Canes on wires Unless you want a sprawling bramble patch, blackberries must be trained on wires. These can be free-standing in open ground or against walls which is the best way to grow pot grown specimens. In open ground, the wires should be suspended between posts spaced 1.8m/6feet apart. Space the wires 30cm"12" apart up the posts, with the lowest wire about 90cm/3ft off the ground. Two tiers are generally sufficient. Canes can be grown as long as is needed to fill the available space, both vertically and horizontally, although the maximum recommended length is about 2.4m/8ft. Can also be grown up trellising both free standing or on walls and in fan formation.

Blackberries produce best on 1 year old canes. As soon as harvesting has finished, cut down old canes to ground level and tie in new canes which will have grown during the summer.

Blackberry Pests & Diseases

Pests	Diseases
Birds - like to eat the berries. Protect with netting, cotton or cages. Aphids can cause leaves to curl. There are chemicals available to combat aphids which can be bought at garden centres. Organic methods include spraying with diluted washing up liquid ( 1 teasp per 2 litres of water), companion planting of flowers such as marigolds nearby.	Grey Mould (Botrytis) - Causes stems to die-back Cut out dead wood back into living tissue. Avoid damp or humid conditions and if the bush is congested prune to permit air to circulate.

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