Can You Grow Blackberries From Seed?

Scarification

• Scarify the seeds by soaking them in a solution of sulfuric acid to mimic the natural process that happens when an animal eats the berries, digests them and deposits them in the soil. Use drain cleaner if you do not have access to a chemical supply house, following the manufacturer's safety precautions. Allow the acid 30 minutes to soften the hard outer coating and then rinse them clean under cool running water.

Warm Stratification

• Stratifying the seeds with a period of warmth for 90 days mimics the warm summer days before fall. Place them in a 68- to 86-degree area in a dry envelope, labeled and dated.

Cold Stratification

• Cold stratify the seeds by placing them on a damp paper towel, folding it several times over the seeds. Place them in a plastic bag; again label it with the contents and date. Seal it and place it in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for another 90 days, this time mimicking the cold days of winter.

Planting

• After the periods of scarification and stratification, plant the seeds in plant pots filled with equal parts of dampened peat moss, perlite and potting soil. Cover them with 3 to 5 mm of the mixture. Firm the soil gently and water it just enough to moisten. Set it in a sunny window until they sprout. Plant outside when the danger of frost has passed.