How to Grow Kiowa Blackberries

A blackberry is the common name for several plants in the Rubus genus, usually Rubus fruticosus. The fruit is a culinary berry, although it is actually an aggregate fruit. The Kiowa blackberry is a commercial cultivar of blackberry known for its large size, and the mature fruit may weigh almost half an oz.. The technique for growing Kiowa blackberries is similar to that of other blackberries with erect stems, also known as canes.

Garden trowel
Stakes
Twine
Pruning shears
Balanced organic fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure your climate can support Kiowa blackberries. This variety can grow in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 8. This means that the Kiowa blackberry can tolerate a minimum annual temperature between -20 and 20 degrees F.
- 2
  Select a planting site that receives at least six hours of full sun each day and that has good drainage. Kiowa blackberries don't require you to modify the existing soil.
- 3
  Plant five to 10 bare-root Kiowa blackberry canes together in mid-fall. A greater number of canes allows them to support each other when they grow.
- 4
  Space the canes every 3 to 4 feet. Tie each cane to a stake with twine for support.
- 5
  Apply a thick layer of mulch around the Kiowa blackberry canes to reduce the competition from other plants. Water thoroughly once per week during the growing season from late spring until fall.
- 6
  Prune the blackberry canes with pruning shears whenever their height exceeds four feet to encourage fruit production. Remove the dead canes completely in the fall. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer each spring, beginning in the second year.
- 7
  Harvest the Kiowa blackberries when you can pull them off the branches with minimal effort.

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