Blackberries are easy to grow in the home garden and can be productive for many years. BILL SEVIER / Tulsa World
Q:I have enjoyed the blackberries available at the local farmers markets. Are blackberries practical for the home gardener? M.D., Tulsa
A: Absolutely. Blackberries are easy to grow and if properly maintained can be productive for many years. But before you run out and look for plants there are some things to consider.
Site selection is important with any plant. Blackberries need a sunny area with well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If your soil is heavy clay, you should consider raised beds, and some kind of wind break can be helpful.
If you do not have a trellis or plans to invest in one, you will want to choose an erect variety versus a semi-erect or trailing blackberry. There are several erect varieties such as Arapaho, Apache, Kiowa and Shawnee well adapted to Oklahoma conditions with excellent flavor. The harvest times vary as do disease resistance. If you want a trailing variety look for one of the blackberry-raspberry hybrids like Boysenberry or Dewberry. If your preference is raspberries, you can grow them in Oklahoma, but yields will be low and expect smaller fruit. Raspberries really need cooler summers for best production.
Planting can be done anytime during the dormant season but the best time to plant is in the fall or February through early March. If you are planting more than one plant, make sure you allow 3 to 4 feet between plants and 6 to 8 feet between rows. Blackberries don't like crowded roots. They will benefit from sunlight and good air circulation. You should allow adequate space around plants for mowing and easy harvesting.
Now you need to be patient. For the first year your canes will reach their full height but those canes will not bear fruit until the following year, at which time they can be pruned back to the crown. Each year your plant will produce new canes while the older canes are fruiting. It is helpful to "tip" or prune the new canes to about 3 feet. Tipping forces plants to produce lateral branches, which will help maintain manageable size and will also improve fruit quality.
Blackberries will benefit from a year-round layer of mulch to maintain moisture, control weeds and provide winter protection for the crown. Some of the hybrid varieties are not as winter hardy as blackberries, so additional protection may be required. For more detailed information on specific varieties, diseases and pest control, you can obtain OSU Fact Sheet "Blackberry and Raspberry culture in the Home Garden" either from the OSU Extension Master Gardener Office or from its website.
If you have a garden-related question you would like the Master Gardeners to answer in a column, call 918-746-3701.
Gardening Tips
Watch for fall specials at garden centers and nurseries since fall is a great time for planting many ornamentals.
Choose spring flowering bulbs as soon as available.
Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons and dusty miller when temperatures begin to cool.
Original Print Headline: Blackberries are easy in home garden
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All Helenium species are native to North America and were introduced to Europe in 1729 and, by the 1940s, many cultivars were available from German and English breeders.
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