How to grow Blackberries
Rubus fruticosus
Big yields — pick thornless, hardy types.
Choose cold-hardy thornless types like Chester if your winters are harsh. In exposed, cold spots, bend the canes down and mulch over them for winter protection; in mild regions they need no special cover.
Grow Blackberries with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Blackberries at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.0 |
| Spacing | 3–4 ft; rows 8 ft |
| Harvest | July → August |
| Plant | Early spring |
| Support | Trellis (semi-erect) |
How to grow Blackberries, step by step
Choose your plants
- Go thornless — picking is so much nicer.
- Cold-hardy semi-erect types (Chester, Triple Crown) handle lake winters best.
- Primocane types like Prime-Ark fruit on new canes, a safety net after harsh winters.
Prep the soil
- Full sun, well-drained ground; work in compost.
- pH 5.5–7.0 is fine — blackberries are less fussy than blueberries.
- Avoid beds that recently grew tomatoes, potatoes or peppers.
Plant in early spring
- Plant dormant or potted canes once the soil is workable.
- Space 3–4 ft apart in rows about 8 ft apart.
- Set up a trellis for semi-erect types — the canes get long and heavy.
First weeks of care
- Water in well and keep evenly moist while establishing.
- Mulch to hold moisture and block weeds.
Keep it going
- In summer, tip the new primocanes when they reach ~3–4 ft to force side branches and more berries.
- After a cane fruits (floricane), cut it out at the base — it won’t fruit again.
- In exposed spots, lay canes down and mulch over them for winter.
- Net the bushes when berries start to color.
Blackberries problems & fixes
Blackberries — Canes die after fruiting: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
That’s normal — those floricanes are spent. Cut them out at the base.
Blackberries — Berries red and bitter: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Picked too soon. Wait until they’re fully black and pull off easily.
Blackberries — Winter kills the canes: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Choose hardy types like Chester and mulch or cover canes in exposed, windy spots.
Blackberries — Thorny, sprawling mess: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Plant thornless types and tip the primocanes in summer to keep them tidy.
Recommended blackberries varieties
- Chester — Thornless. The most cold-hardy thornless blackberry — best choice for cold climates.
- Triple Crown — Thornless. Huge yields of large, sweet berries on vigorous semi-erect canes.
- Prime-Ark Freedom — Primocane. Fruits on first-year canes — you can get berries even after a hard winter.
Blackberries month-by-month
| January | Dormant — order plants. |
|---|---|
| February | Cut out spent floricanes; set up the trellis. |
| March | Plant dormant or potted canes. |
| April | Plant, mulch, and give a first feeding. |
| May | Bloom — keep the soil evenly moist. |
| June | Tip new primocanes when they reach 3–4 ft. |
| July | Harvest begins — pick every few days. |
| August | Peak harvest. Remove canes right after they fruit. |
| September | Finish the harvest; tidy the canes. |
| October | Mulch; prep tender types for winter. |
| November | Bend canes down and cover them in exposed spots. |
| December | Dormant — plan next year. |