What Is the Care of Arapaho Blackberries?

General Care

• Like all blackberries, Arapaho blackberries thrive in warm, mild climates. The plants do best in sandy soil with a pH between 4.5 to 7.5. When soil pH rises above 8.0, the blackberries show signs of iron chlorosis, such as yellowed leaves. Water the soil weekly to keep it evenly moist, but not soggy, especially when mature plants are producing fruit.

Considerations

• Erect, thornless blackberry varieties like Arapaho are generally easier to maintain than trailing, thorny types; however, without proper pruning and training, they eventually become unproductive as well. While Arapaho blackberries have been resistant to double blossom and rust diseases, the variety may encounter problems given time.

Solutions

• Prune 2-year-old canes to the ground after fruiting, and prune 1-year-old canes when they stand 24 to 36 inches high to promote lateral growth and more fruiting. Prune your Arapaho blackberry bushes to a hedge form or train them to a wire or trellis system. Cut the plants back to the ground every three years to prevent disease and encourage healthy new wood. Space blackberries so air circulates freely and water them in the morning, or by drip irrigation, to discourage the spread of disease.