Growing Blackberries

[packyderms_wife]

When and how does one trim back blackberry canes? We purchased some commercially several years ago the first two years they had fruit.

Last year the plants went bonkers and spread everywhere!!! I think there may have been berries but the brambles were so thick I couldn't get in there to check - there were defiantely blossoms everywhere.

I'd like to cut them back and have a controlled patch - any suggestions?

Kimberly

[recorderguy]

You're kind of at the wrong time to do that for the year, but you can thin right now.

The yearly pruning is after they bare fruit and you've harvested, cut any stems which bore fruit to the ground. (keep track of which is which). Don't cut any of them that did not bare fruit, as those will be the ones to produce next year. I also like to have only about 4 or 5 canes per one foot of ground space. Weaker "new canes" can be cut back as well.


The one thing you CAN do now is take a look at the stems that will be fruiting this year, and thin them out. I don't thin more than one in four stems. And try to pick the ones which arent the best producers of the lot.



Seeing as your patch as gotten a bit out of hand, which they're known to do....Just cut some of them back. Berries like air and sunlight. If they get too thick they dont produce as well. You just kind of have to stay on top of them. They really don't need to be very thick. 4 or 5 canes per foot of ground space in the fall after you've cut back the "old growth" is a goal to shoot for. This means there will be eight to 12 canes during the summer. (Four baring fruit, four that are growing that will bare next year, and upto four that will have to be thinned)

[packyderms_wife]

You're kind of at the wrong time to do that for the year, but you can thin right now.

The yearly pruning is after they bare fruit and you've harvested, cut any stems which bore fruit to the ground. (keep track of which is which). Don't cut any of them that did not bare fruit, as those will be the ones to produce next year. I also like to have only about 4 or 5 canes per one foot of ground space. Weaker "new canes" can be cut back as well.


The one thing you CAN do now is take a look at the stems that will be fruiting this year, and thin them out. I don't thin more than one in four stems. And try to pick the ones which arent the best producers of the lot.



Seeing as your patch as gotten a bit out of hand, which they're known to do....Just cut some of them back. Berries like air and sunlight. If they get too thick they dont produce as well. You just kind of have to stay on top of them. They really don't need to be very thick. 4 or 5 canes per foot of ground space in the fall after you've cut back the "old growth" is a goal to shoot for. This means there will be eight to 12 canes during the summer. (Four baring fruit, four that are growing that will bare next year, and upto four that will have to be thinned)

thank you sounds like I've got a whole lot of cutting back to do. These suckers a tall now, probably pushing 10 feet.

Kimberly

[packyderms_wife]

Someone recommended that I purcahse this book the backyard berry book

http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Berry-Book-Hands-Brambles/dp/0963452061

[Navajo]

I have this book and it is great. easy to understand instructions and excellent illusration.

http://www.amazon.com/Schusters-Encyclopedia-encyclopedia-practical-gardening/dp/0671248340/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240260282&sr=8-4



They have several books I only have the friut and vegtable books.

[firebird]

I can mow mine flat to the ground with the bush hog and they are back full strength next year. If left alone, they can take over a small pasture in 2 years!

[joyce1954]

In Washington they are a plague. There are berry brambles all over the place. What ever you do don't let the canes touch the ground as they will root there. And once you cut or thin throw the cuttings in the trash or put them in the burn pile. If left to lay they will root. If you get lazy and cut them to the ground with a mower you will have a regular forest of vines next year. I let our goats do the triming. The goats are the only thing that keeps them somewhat in control. I still have way more than I can can or dry for tea.

[Cascade Failure]

I can mow mine flat to the ground with the bush hog and they are back full strength next year. If left alone, they can take over a small pasture in 2 years!


Yup..."blackberries" and "controlled patch" are not normally used together in the same conversation.