Blackberry Plant Growth Stages

During the first year, the canes sprout and grow to their full height. Canes are produced from both the roots and the crown. In the second year the canes leaf, flower, and fruit. At the same time the roots are producing new first-year canes. After fruiting, the second-year canes die and must be be removed.

Cutting back deadwood is crucial to reduce the risk of certain diseases. Once the blackberries are done fruiting then you need to cut off the floricanes, leaving only the primocanes. Due to the trailing, rambling nature of blackberries they must be planted with enough space between plants to allow for ample growth of the canes.

Growth stages of blackberry plant from planting a seed to plant with green leaves

Alternatively, you can fill your container with a mixture of one-third topsoil, one-third perlite or vermiculite for drainage, and one-third well-rotted manure or compost. Blackberries are brambles, or cane berries, that belong to the Rosaceae family. Remove from packaging, and carefully prune off any damaged roots.

• Natchez – ‘Natchez’ is an early thornless, semi-erect blackberry that ripens around the same time as ‘Arapaho’ (~June 3).
• Blackberries are best suited to being grown as a hedgerow; I like to site them along a property line.
• In the US, blackberries grow in the Southeastern US, especially in Oregon.
• Leave 8 to 15 canes of 4 to 8 feet in length on trailing varieties.

Blackberries have traditionally been sold as bare-root plants, though some producers are now selling container-grown plants. Kiowa is a thorny, early-season variety that bears the world’s biggest blackberry fruit. Kiowa blooms earlier and longer than other blackberry varieties. Trailing blackberries have canes are not erect and are the least winter hardy; some have thorns while others are thornless. They require a trellis and have large berries with excellent, sweet berries. Begin picking early in the morning before air temperatures become too high.

How to transplant a Blackberry bush into a bigger tub

Fill a third of the pot, saturate the soil, and repeat until all the soil is added. Take out some of the soil and into the hole add some rich compost mixed with a small pot of bonemeal. In the US, blackberries grow in the Southeastern US, especially in Oregon. They are grown commercially in British Columbia, Eastern Canada, Midwest, and California. They are great on their own or served with cream or ice-cream. Some types are suited for the fresh market and others are picked for processing.