Growing Blackberries: Complete Guide to Planting, Pruning, and Harvest

Blackberries are remarkably easy to grow, but only plant virus-free stock—viruses are widespread. Buy high-quality plants from reputable nurseries.

Types of Blackberries

(Details from Colorado State University Extension.)

Trailing blackberries produce vigorous primocanes (first-year canes) from the crown. Second-year floricanes yield long fruit with small seeds and intense aroma. Not hardy north—damage at 13°F mid-winter, 20s°F late winter/spring.

Erect blackberries have stiff, arching, somewhat self-supporting canes. Easier managed when trellised and pruned. Summer-prune primocanes to encourage branching and boost second-year yields. Can become invasive via root suckers.

Erect blackberries (large-seeded types) have less intense flavor/aroma than trailing types. Semi-hardy in climates with rapid spring temperature shifts.

Primocane-fruiting erect cultivars fruit on new canes—cut to ground each winter for easy management.

Semi-erect thornless blackberries produce vigorous, thick canes from the crown with no root suckers. Summer-prune primocanes for branching. Trellis required. Generally higher yields than trailing or erect types. Fruit quality similar to erect.

Blackberry/red raspberry hybrids (Boysenberry, Loganberry, Tayberry) are natural crosses. The receptacle (white core) comes off with the fruit, classifying them as blackberries.

Planting

• All blackberries and hybrids are self-fertile.
• Full sun for best production.
• Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.
• Plant far from wild blackberries that may harbor viruses.
• Spacing: semi-erect 5–6 ft; erect 3 ft; trailing 5–8 ft. Rows 8 ft apart.
• Plant shallowly—1 inch deeper than nursery depth.
• Plant late fall or early spring (delay in very cold areas to protect hybrids).

Care

Trellising and Pruning

Construct trellises for all blackberries.

• Trailing types: Two-wire system—top wire 5–6 ft, second 18 inches below. After year 1, fruiting floricanes line the wires. Train new primocanes in a narrow row below. Direct all canes one direction for simplicity. After harvest, remove old floricanes to ground, but delay until they've died back to return nutrients to crown/roots. Then train primocanes up wires in a spiral. In cold areas, leave primocanes on ground for winter mulch protection. Spring: train old primocanes (now floricanes) up wires after extreme cold passes. Avoid working canes in cold—they break easily.
• Erect blackberries: Stiff, shorter canes from crown and root suckers (hedgerow). T-trellis works well. Summer prune: remove top 1–2 inches of primocanes at 4 ft tall to force branching—repeat as canes reach height. Remove suckers outside hedgerow. Winter: remove dead floricanes, shorten laterals to 1.5–2.5 ft.
• Primocane-fruiting erect: Cut all canes just above ground in late winter. Summer: at 3.5 ft, remove top 6 inches for branching and larger fall yields.
• Semi-erect: Double T Trellis—4-ft cross arms at top of 6-ft post, 3-ft cross arm 2 ft below. High-tensile wire connects cross arms. Summer prune: at 5 ft, remove top 2 inches for branching (multiple sessions). Winter: remove dead floricanes, spread primocanes along trellis. Shortening optional if training difficult.
• Mulch heavily all season to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Water 1 inch per week.
• Roots produce abundant shoots—prune most so survivors yield heavily.

Pests and Diseases

• Raspberry Borers
• Fruit Worms
• Gray Mold
• Viruses
• Raspberry Bushy Dwarf virus: bright yellow on leaves, bleached look on fruiting canes in summer. Blackberry Calico: faint yellow blotches on leaves.

Harvest and Storage

• Pick regularly, keeping the central plug in the fruit (unlike raspberries).
• Fresh is best; store by canning, preserving, or freezing.

Recommended Varieties

• Early: 'Brazos', 'Cherokee', 'Comanche'
• Late: 'Black Satin', 'Smoothstem', 'Thornfree'
• Hybrids: 'Boysenberry', 'Loganberry', 'Marionberry'

Wit & Wisdom

Blackberries and strawberries are rich in ellagic acid—an antioxidant that neutralizes carcinogens from tobacco smoke and air pollution. They also contain antioxidants that lower cholesterol and protect against cardiovascular disease.

Recipes

• Blackberry Jam
• Blackberry Soup
• Blackberry Cobbler