GreenlyHow to grow Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus · bramble
Perennial bramble fruiting in late summer to autumn. Grown from nursery plants or rooted canes; produces on second-year canes (floricanes).
Quick facts
| Type | Berry |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Frost | tolerates light frost |
| Soil for sowing | from 8 °C |
| Germination | 30 days |
| Sowing to harvest | 365 days |
| Where it grows | Open ground |
When to plant
Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.
Care
Open ground
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 7 days | 10…25 °C | balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage |
| Flowering | every 5 days | 15…28 °C | phosphorus and potassium, at the start of the stage |
| Fruiting | every 4 days | 15…30 °C | potassium, at the start of the stage |
| Harvest | every 5 days | 15…25 °C | — |
Growing notes
Light
Prefers full sun for best yields; tolerates light shade but fruiting decreases.
Soil
Moist, well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter; avoid waterlogged or heavy clay soils.
Care
Install a trellis or support system to train canes and improve air circulation. Prune spent floricanes after fruiting and thin primocanes to 5–7 per plant. Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Protect ripening fruit from birds with netting.
How to tell it is ripe
- Berry is black all over and looks plump.
- Skin has lost its gloss and turned a dull, matte black.
- A ripe berry comes free with a slight up-or-down bend, and its white core stays inside the fruit.
- Ripe fruit feels slightly tender, not hard.
- Pick every few days in the cool of the morning once the dew has dried.
Pests and diseases of Blackberry
- Raspberry beetle
Sources
Figures cited from these sources.