The blackberry cultivars sold in the nursery trade today are the result of extensive and ongoing blackberry breeding.
Blackberry plants are easy to grow and long-lived with a lifespan of 15 to 40 years.
More sunlight is better.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
If necessary, amend the soil before planting so that it is rich, well-draining, and slightly acidic.
Blackberries should be planted relatively shallow, about 1 to 2 inches below the soil.
Trailing varieties of blackberries should have a trellis or other form of support to secure the canes.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Blackberry Plant Care
Light
Sites with full sun are best for productive blackberry bushes.
Some afternoon shade is tolerated, especially in areas with hot summers.
Soil
The soil should beslightly acidic (pH between 5.6 and 6.5)with good drainage.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
If the soil is wet or has a high clay content, amend it with organic matter before planting.
Blackberries do not fare well in wet soils.
Roughly zones 5 to 9 provide the best environment for blackberries, depending on the cultivar.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Cold winter temperatures combined with wet spring soils may lead to plant death.
Fertilize plants again just after the harvest in the late summer or fall.
Pollination
Blackberries are self-pollinating, so you will not need multiple plants for fruit production.
Ron Hill / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Bees and other insects will assist in pollination.
Popular blackberry cultivars include:
Blackberries vs. Raspberries
Both blackberries and raspberries belong to theRubusgenus.
One key difference between the fruits of blackberries and raspberries is the way the fruits are formed.
AAES Director / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
The tiny globes of the fruits, calleddrupelets, are attached to a white core in blackberries.
Raspberries, including black raspberries, form drupelets with a hollow core.
Berries that are ripe will be black and plump.
Eran Finkle / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Find a fitting trellis to support the lateral growth of the canes.
Pruning
Blackberry roots are perennial but the canes are biennial.
First-year and second-year canes are pruned differently.
Ark. Agricultural Experiment Station / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
New canes that haven’t yet fruited should be tip-pruned in the spring to about 3 feet.
This will cause the new canes to branch out, maximizing fruit production.
Immediately after the harvest, cut the second-year fruiting canes back to ground level.
Robert Daly / Getty Images
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Blackberries are prone to anthracnose, stem blight, and crown gall.
Only purchase plant stock from reputable nurseries and plant your blackberries away from areas with wild brambles.
Insect pests include stink bugs and raspberry crown borers.
Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and blackberry calico virus both cause bright yellow splotches to appear on leaves.
Affected plants need to be removed and destroyed.
Blackberries are easy to grow but not all varieties do well everywhere.
Choose cultivars that have performed well in regional trials.
Contact your local Extension Office for recommendations.
Most varieties of blackberries grow better with a trellis.
Growing Blackberries in Missouri.
A “Berry” Good Bee for Pollinating Blackberries and Raspberries.
Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
