Blackberries
Vigorous, sprawling canes that produce abundant, sweet-tart berries. Cultivated varieties are often thornless and offer larger, more reliable crops than wild ones.
Blackberries (Young plant)
£9.99 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Rarely grown from seed; buy canes or tip-layered plants
Plant out
November – March (dormant canes) or throughout the growing season (container-grown)
Harvest
July – October, depending on variety
Conditions
Sun
Full sun to partial shade (at least 4-6 hours direct sun)
Water
Keep consistently moist, especially when fruiting. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile loam, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
1.5-3m (5-10ft) between plants, depending on vigour and training
Containers
Large containers (min 45-60cm / 18-24 inch diameter) can work for some compact varieties, but requires diligent watering.
Indoors
Not suitable for indoor growing
Care and harvest
Feeding
Annually in early spring, apply a balanced granular fertiliser or well-rotted compost around the base.
Pruning
Prune out canes that have fruited to ground level immediately after harvest. Train new canes on wires.
Harvesting
Pick when the berries are fully black, plump, and easily detach from the plant. They will be sweet.
Storage
Refrigerate for 3-5 days, or freeze for longer storage. Do not wash until ready to use.
Good companions: Borage, Mint, Raspberries (but watch for disease sharing)