Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus · Tree/Shrub

Quick answer: Water: About 1–1.5 in per week. Light: Full sun. Soil: Well-drained, not in low wet spots; pH 5.6–6.7. Pets: ASPCA has no separate entry for blackberry; a closely related bramble, creeping rubus, is listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The thorns can injure pets. If in doubt, ask your vet.

A long-lived bramble that fruits on canes in summer. The roots are perennial while each cane lives two years: it grows leaves the first year, fruits the second and then dies, so yearly pruning keeps the planting productive.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun

Water

About 1–1.5 in per week in the growing season

Soil

Well-drained, not in low wet spots; pH 5.6–6.7

Temperature

Many varieties suffer winter damage in cold areas; choose a hardy one (estimated)

Spacing

3–6 ft in the row depending on type; rows 6–12 ft apart

Container

At least 2 ft deep, 20–30 gallons

Harvest

Small crop in year 2, full crop from year 3; summer to fall

Lifespan

Plantings last 15–40+ years; each cane lives 2 years

When?

Plant bare-root canes in early spring; potted plants can go in from spring through late summer. Fruit ripens from early summer to fall depending on type.

Step by step

1. Pick a sunny, well-drained site away from wild brambles and low spots.
2. Work compost into heavy soil before planting.
3. Set plants 3–6 ft apart in the row, at the depth they grew in the nursery.
4. Give trailing and semi-erect types a trellis or wire support.
5. Water about 1–1.5 in per week through the season, more in hot spells.
6. Tip new canes in spring to encourage side branches.
7. After harvest or in winter, cut out the canes that fruited and any weak ones.
8. Pick in the morning when berries are fully black and pull off easily.

Common problems

Pets

ASPCA has no separate entry for blackberry; a closely related bramble, creeping rubus, is listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The thorns can injure pets. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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