Blackberry is Easy to Grow

Blackberry bush is the plant for you if you are searching for simple fruit to grow in limited space. In many areas, these sweet-tasting blackberries grow untamed in the forests and alongside trails. In the wild, they successfully contend with a range of weeds. They’ll grow easily if you put a few of them in your garden or yard. With a little tender loving care and attention, you will be rewarded with a large and luscious crop. In addtion, up to 20 white flowers can appear on their long pedicel.

Blackberries can be purchased as potted plants or as dormant bare roots. It is ideal for planting them in the early spring when the canes remain dormant. Blackberries can be sown in the ground in the fall if you have the patience to cultivate them from seed. Blackberry canes grown from seeds often start bearing fruit in significant amounts in their second full year of growth.

Quick Growing Guide

Botanical Name: Rubus allegheniensis

Also Called: Highbush Blackberry, Allegheny Blackberry

En français: Ronce alléghanienne

See More Plants in this Botanical Family:

• Rosaceae

Colour:

• Blue
• White

Blooms:

• Spring
• Summer

Sun / Shade:

• Full Sun
• Partial Shade
• Partial Sun

Water: Low water requirement.

Soil:

• Nutrient rich
• Slightly Acidic
• Well drained

Height:

• Up to 3 feet (1 meter)

Pollinators:

• Birds
• Mammals

Hardiness Zones:

• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9

Care:

• Easy to Care and Grow

Planting

Blackberries are self-fertile. Thus, the fruit will still be produced even if only one plant is planted. When berries are in full sun, the tastiest berries will be produced. However, a blackberry cane will produce decent crops even when grown in deep shade where space is at a premium; none of the other typical fruits would thrive in these circumstances.

Depending on you hardiness zone, blackberries can bloom later in the growing season. Thus, frost seldom poses a threat. For blackberries, low-lying ground or frost nooks are ideal.

You can also plant bacberry in large containers of 5 gallons or more.

Blackberries grow naturally in thickets in neglected fields, fencelines, conifer plantations, and wooded edges.

Soil

Almost all soil types will allow blackberries to grow relatively well. Blackberries grow best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic materials. Slighly acidic soil with Ph of aroud 6.0 is also good. They have a low water requirement. When the fruits develop in the summer, they prefer the soil to have an excellent water retention capacity. The worst soil for growing blackberries is light chalky soil, which can be improved with a lot of well-rotted compost.

Light

For a fruitful blackberry bush, locations with full sun are ideal. Having some afternoon shade is acceptable, especially in regions with scorching summers.

Blackberry Water Requirements

Blackberries require a modest amount of water, roughly 1 inch per week, from rainfall or irrigation at the ground level. In moist soils, blackberries do not grow well.

Temperature and Humidity

Blackberry bush must experience a period of cold dormancy in order to germinate, but due to their shallow root systems, they do not thrive in regions where temperatures often fall below zero. Blackberries thrive best in zones 5 through 8. Plant death could result from the combination of chilly winter temperatures and soggy spring soils. Blackberry plants do not thrive well in the opposite environment of hot, dry breezes, which can lead to stunted, seedy fruits.

Fertilizer for Rubus Allegheniensis

When plants are coming out of dormancy in the spring, fertilize them with a balanced 10-10-10 formula. Applying manure and compost to the soil in the fall will fertilize the plants once more while reducing weed growth and enhancing soil quality.

Pruning

When pruning blackberry bush, handheld clippers are required. Erect canes in their first year should not be pruned. In order to prevent canes from toppling over in snow and wind, pruning promotes lateral branching and strengthens them. To reduce the number of lesions that lead to cane blight, pruning should be done early in the growing season.

Harvesting Blackberry

Choose only completely mature berries. A deep black color, plump yet firm texture, and effortless pulling off of the vine are all characteristics of mature berries. Once harvested, berries don’t continue to ripen.

Blackberries must be harvested frequently—every few days—once they begin to ripen. Keep the fruit’s center plug while plucking (unlike raspberries) when the weather is cooler, harvest. Berries should be stored in the shade and chilled as soon as possible after being gathered.

Benefits

For better health of your heart, blackberries provide various vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and phytochemicals. Anthocyanins can be found there in abundance. A particular component from blackberry juice did, in fact, give protection against heart disease, according to one study.

Magnesium and potassium are abundant in blackberries, which help control blood sugar fluctuations. Additionally, it includes dietary fibers that slow down digestion, causing blood glucose to release slowly and preventing blood sugar spikes.

Blackberries also include a lot of fiber, which prevents any digestive issues. Both soluble and insoluble dietary fibers are present. These fibers aid in a healthy digestive system and keep cholesterol levels in check. A cup of berries can be a healthy substitute for fried food because they keep you full for a long time.

Toxicity to Dogs

Blackberries are not harmful or toxic to dogs. We’ve had Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies, and only one of them sometimes sniffed out blackberries on vine, while our other dog couldn’t care less.