How To Grow Blackberries By The Gallon!

We've been harvesting gallons of blackberries... And I'd love to teach you How to grow blackberries for in your backyard garden too. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a beginner, growing blackberries is rewarding and can yield a huge harvest of sweet, juicy berries year after year!

blackberries hanging on a blackberry plant with text

Choosing the Best Blackberry Plants for Your Garden

Blackberries are delicious fruits that are easy to grow throughout the United States. But before you start growing blackberries, you need to choose the right variety for your area hand hardiness zone.

Blackberries are perennial plants with a perennial root system, and different varieties have different hardiness levels. So choose choose blackberry plants that are suited to your climate and hardiness zone so they can thrive in your garden!

There are three primary types of blackberries: thorny varieties, erect varieties, and thornless varieties.

Thorny varieties are the wild cousins of cultivated blackberries and have long, spiky thorns.

Erect varieties have stiff canes that grow straight up and require a support system to prevent them from toppling over. Thornless varieties are the most popular type of blackberry and are easy to grow in a home garden. They come in both trailing and erect varieties, and they're more tolerant of cold temperatures and insect pests than other types.

Thornless blackberries are easier to pick, but some gardeners prefer thorny varieties for their better taste. Some popular blackberry varieties to consider include "Loch Ness," "Chester," and "Triple Crown."

Most Flavorful Blackberry Varieties

Navaho as the best-tasting new blackberry.
Arapaho is second.
Kiowa is a thorny upright blackberry that could be the biggest blackberry in the whole world!

How to Grow Blackberries - Step 1- Soil Prep

Blackberries require full sun to grow and produce fruit, so it's essential to choose a spot in your garden that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

They also prefer well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter and has a pH between 6.0 to 6.5. If your soil is heavy clay, you can amend it with garden compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility.

Before planting, it's a good idea to amend the soil with organic matter to improve drainage and fertility. Blackberry plants thrive in well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

planting blackberry start in ground with text

The Best Time To Plant Blackberries & Growing Conditions

Once you've chosen the right blackberry plants for your garden, it's time to start planting.... The best time to plant new plants is in the early spring, just after the last frost. But, planting in the fall is also an option in warmer climates. Just avoid planting in the middle of summer when the temperatures are hot, so they don't die!

Blackberry plants are usually planted in early spring, after the threat of frost has passed. They can be planted in the ground or in large containers filled with well-drained soil. When planting blackberry plants in the ground, make sure to dig a hole deep enough so that the base of the plant is at ground level.

If you're planting bare-root plants, make sure to soak the roots in water for a couple of hours before planting. Once planted, make sure to water the plants thoroughly and apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

When planting blackberry plants, make sure to plant them at the same depth they were growing in their nursery containers. Plant the blackberries 3 to 4 feet apart in rows that are 6 to 8 feet apart. After filling dirt in around the roots, gently firm the soil around the plants and water them thoroughly to help settle the soil.

Providing Support for Growing Blackberry Plants

Blackberry bushes can grow quite tall and need support to prevent them from toppling over. You can use a trellis, fence, or support wire to keep the canes upright. For trailing varieties, install a support wire 3 to 4 feet above the ground and train the canes to grow along the wire.

For erect varieties, install two support wires, one 3 feet above the ground and one. We use a wood cross post with wires on both sides of the cross to hold vines in and up.

We have to crosses on the posts, one up high and one about 2 feet off the ground. You will need to regularly go through your blackberry rows and train the canes to stay in the wires. Learn more about training your blackberry plants from the USDA!

drip line under canes for regular fuss free watering. with text

Watering Blackberry Plants

Proper watering is essential for blackberry plants, particularly during the first growing season. During this time, the plant's roots are still establishing themselves, and they require plenty of moisture.

We run a drip line under our blackberry canes. This waters for 1 hour each day during the hot months, and then we turn it down to water 1 hour every two days till September when we turn the water off for cold months. This avoids getting water on the leaves or fruit, as this can encourage fungal diseases. And, it provides the plants with a slow and steady supply of water... Sporadic watering can cause the soil to become waterlogged.

Make sure to water the plants deeply and regularly, so the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

Watering in the early morning or late afternoon is ideal, as it gives the leaves enough time to dry before the sun sets.

Mulching Blackberry Plants - How to Grow Blackberries

Mulching is the best way to help blackberry plants retain moisture and control weed growth! Place a layer of organic material, such as straw or wood chips, around the base of each blackberry plant.

Mulch should be about 2 to 3 inches deep, and it should not touch the base of the plant, just cover the dirt around it.

Mulching also provides a barrier against pests and diseases in the soil. And, as the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil and improves its texture!

Pruning Blackberry Plants

Just like raspberry plants, regular pruning is important to keep blackberry plants healthy and encourage new growth!

Prune out dead or damaged canes in winter, or early spring before new growth starts. This promotes new cane grow from the base of the plant. Make sure you also remove the old fruiting canes, because they can harbor pests and diseases.

Blackberries produce fruit on two-year-old canes, which means you need to maintain a balance of both first-year canes and second-year canes to ensure a continuous harvest. The first-year canes, or primocanes, grow new shoots and leaves but don't produce fruit. Second year canes, or floricanes, produce the majority of the fruit and need special attention during the growing season.

Blackberry plants can produce fruit for many years if they're well-maintained!

How to Harvest Your Blackberries

You've worked hard to learn how to grow blackberries... Now it's time for your reward! Harvest!

Blackberries are typically ripe and ready to harvest in late spring or early summer, depending on the variety and time of year. Ripe fruit should be dark and shiny, with a juicy texture and sweet flavor. It's best to pick ripe fruit every couple of days to avoid over-ripening and rotting.

It's best to pick ripe fruit every couple of days to avoid over-ripening and rotting.

To harvest blackberries, gently pick the fruit from the plant, being careful not to damage the new primocanes or new shoots. Once harvested, blackberries can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days or frozen for later use.

Blackberry Pests & Diseases

Blackberry plants can be susceptible to a variety of insect pests and fungal diseases, such as Japanese beetles and purple blotch.

Keeping a watchful eye on the plants for any signs of damage or disease is important. And remove any infected or dead plant material to prevent the spread of disease!

If you notice any issues, consider using balanced fertilizer to keep the plants healthy. It's also important to keep the area around the blackberry plants clean and free of debris, which can harbor pests and disease. Regular pruning can also help keep the plants healthy and reduce the risk of fungal diseases.