Blackberry

Blackberry, is a perennial shrub in the family Rosaceae that is grown for its aggregate black fruit of the same name. The name blackberry is used to describe several species, including Rubus fruticosis (wild blackberry), Rubus ursinus and Rubus argutus, two species native to North America. Blackberries have three stem types: erect, arching, and trailing. They often have thorns, but some varieties are thornless. The leaves alternate along the stem with each group of leaves consisting of 3–5 leaflets. The leaves are prickly and bright green, and are toothed along the edges. The life-span of blackberry shrubs is variable, but they usually live for less than ten years reaching heights of up to 3 m (10 ft). Blackberry may also be referred to as bramble and the shrubs grow native on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Blackberries are consumed as a fresh fruit. They can also be frozen or canned for later use in ice creams, juices, pies, jellies, preserves and jams and other sweet desserts. Blackberries are high in antioxidants and vitamins and are a good sources of potassium, phosphorus, iron and calcium.


Basic requirements Blackberries grow best in temperate regions with cool summers and mild winters as they are susceptible to cold weather. They grow best when daytime temperatures are around 25°C (77°F). Blackberries prefer full sun (minimum six hours of direct sunlight) and they need to be planted in soil that drains well, is high in organic matter, and has a pH range of 6–6.5. Drainage it critical in blackberry propagation as the plants are susceptible to root rot. Blackberries should not be planted in low lying areas where water may build up and they require a post support system or trellis to support the weight of the fruit on the plants. Blackberry canes are biennial and produce fruit in the second year of growth. Canes in their first year of growth are called primocanes and those in the second year of growth are called fruiting canes or floricanes. The young canes are green in color, whereas the older floricanes are tougher and have a woody covering making them easy to tell apart. Preparation Soil may need prepared up to two years in advance of planting if major amendments are required. Acidic soil can be amended with lime to bring the pH up to a level suitable for blackberries. Organic content can be increased by planting a cover crop or by the addition of manure or compost. Avoid planting blackberries where peppers, eggplant, tomatoes or potatoes have been grown previously as these plants are host to Verticillium fungi which can cause root rot in blackberries. Choose a variety which is suited to your region. Planting and trellising Many blackberry varieties are very vigorous and using a support system such as a trellis will help to protect the canes from wind damage while also supporting the weight of the fruit crop. The trellis should be constructed before or at planting to avoid damaging the young plants after they are in the ground. The traditional method of supporting red blackberry canes is a post and wire system. This method involves running two wires about 60 cm (2 ft) apart vertically between wooden posts staked into the ground. The lower wire should be positioned 90 cm (3 ft) from the ground and the upper 1.5 m (5 ft) from the ground. The blackberry canes can then be tied to the wires. A second option is a T-trellis which is similar to the post and wire but the vertical wooden posts each have two cross bars to attach the wire. Two sets of wires run parallel to one another, one above the other. The vertical posts should be spaced 3.6–4.6 m (12-15 ft) apart with the lower wire positioned 90 cm (3 ft) from the ground and the upper 1.5 m (5 ft) from the ground. Blackberry plants in the home garden are usually grown from bare root plants or from tissue-cultured plants and should be planted in early Spring when the danger of any severe frosts has passed. The plants are usually planted in a row and the suckers will fill in the spaces to produce a hedge. Plant approximately 70 cm (27.5 in) apart, allowing 2.4–3 m (8–10 ft) between rows. Pruning Allow the plants to fill in the row to a width of about 30–38 cm (12–15 in) during the course of the growing season. Remove any suckers which are produced outwith this row. After harvest, cut the fruited canes of summer-fruiting varieties to ground level. Select 6–8 of the strongest young canes on each plant and tie them to the supporting wires so that they are spaced 8–10 cm (3–4 in) apart. Cut all of the canes of Autumn fruiting varieties to ground level after harvest. Cut back canes as needed in the summer if required to prevent crowding.


CABI Crop Protection Compendium. (2008). Rubus datasheet. Available at: http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/47977. [Accessed 06 November 14]. Paid subscription required. Ellis, M. A. & Converse, R. (1991) Compendium of raspberry and blackberry diseases and insects. American Phytopathological Society Press. Fernandez, G. & Ballington, J. R. Growing blackberries in the home garden. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Available at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/ag-401.pdf. [Accessed 06 November 14]. Free to access.