When Do Blackberries Start to Grow?

Planting Time

• Plant young bare root plants in early spring before new leaves emerge. Plant potted plants anytime between spring and late summer. These plants suffer less transplant shock than bare-root plants and become established quickly. Plant both types in a sunny location and provide frequent water to ensure vigorous early growth.

Fruit Production

• Blackberries grow new canes, known as primocanes, the first summer after planting. These canes won't produce any fruit until the second summer, when they are called floricanes. After the harvest, the floricanes die to the ground, while new primocanes take their place. With good care, blackberry plants produce as much as 1 qt. of fruit per 10 feet of row.

Care

• Blackberries are long-lived plants, growing 20 years or longer, so the time you spend preparing the soil and caring for them is an investment. Good care ensures that blackberries produce juicy, sweet fruit within the first two or three years. Amend the soil with compost or manure before planting, and till it to a depth of 12 inches. Topdress the plants in spring with a shovelful of manure or a handful of 10-10-10 fertilizer. Annual pruning also increases yields and simplifies harvest.

Plant Type

• Blackberries fall into three categories -- erect, semi-erect and trailing. When and how many blackberries the plant produces depends in part on the type of berry you choose. Erect blackberries are the most cold-hardy, an important consideration if you live north of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 7. Blackberries don't produce fruit reliably in northern climates because of winter injury. Semi-erect blackberries produce higher yields than erect berries, but are not as cold hardy. Trailing berries often have the best flavor, but are the least cold hardy.