Growing blackberries

Blackberries are a juicy, delicious fruit that is as fun to eat as it is good for you. These berries can be eaten as a snack, in a salad or baked into a golden cobbler. Summer brings a new crop with true blackberry lovers biting at the bit for their first taste of the season.

The plant

To grow blackberry plants a visit to a local garden shop is a must. While there, the various plants can be browsed making it easy to choose one for the garden. Pick the healthiest looking plants for your garden.

A hardy plant, the blackberry grows well in slightly acidic soil. Blackberries are a common sight along the roadside in southern states. Blooming in late April or early March, the plants brighten the landscape with tiny white flowers that will ripen to the favorite black fruit by late June.

The best garden spot

Blackberry plants grow best in full sun to very light shade. These plants spread, so a large place where they can grow freely is desired. The soil should be tilled or broken up well with shovel or hoe. Add a small load of manure or other compost to the soil and mix the soil well again with a tiller or other garden tool.

Planting

For the plants to grow and produce the best harvest they need to be planted about 4 feet apart. Dig a hole for each plant as large as the container the plant came in. Next add fertilizer and water to the hole. Place a blackberry plant into the hole level with the top of the soil the plant has been growing in. Fill in around the plant with garden potting soil. Tap the soil lightly with the head of a hoe or with your foot around the plant to seat if firmly in the garden. Water new plants well.

Mulching to boost growth

Adding mulch to new plants helps to protect the roots and helps control moisture in between watering. Along with this benefit mulch adds nutrients to the soil and plants especially if it is an naturally organic mulch, such as hay or straw. Some gardeners use pine straw .

The crop

Whether it's a handful with the first crop or berries by the bucket full the harvest will be a joyful time to enjoy this dark purple, black, juicy fruit. For best production keep these plants well watered during the blooming and early fruiting stage.

When picking blackberries be aware of thorns unless plants are a thorn-less variety. Enjoy the bounty naturally, add the berries to cereal or bake them in a favorite pie recipe.

Learn more about this author, J J Fields.
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