Growing Blackberries in Montana

Plant blackberries in a sunny garden space with good soil drainage.

Test the soil pH to make sure it falls within the ideal range for blackberries of 5.6 to 7.0. If the soil pH is outside of this range, add amendments, as recommended by the soil test, to raise or lower the pH.

Weed the area to reduce the competition for soil space, nutrients and water.

Plant blackberries in the early spring and in holes so that they sit at the same depth they were in their starter pots. Space upright blackberry varieties in rows 8 feet apart with 3 feet between plants within the rows. Trailing varieties of blackberries may need up to 10 feet between rows and 5 to 8 feet between plants, unless the gardener decides to use a trellis to take advantage of more vertical space.

Water the blackberries immediately after planting so that the soil gets wet down to all of the plant roots. Do not water them so much that the water forms a puddle that does not quickly drain through the soil. If it has rained recently, water them just enough to settle the soil. Make sure there are no big air pockets around the plant roots.

Continue watering the plants until they establish themselves. After their roots grow strong, blackberries in most areas of Montana get enough rain so that they do not need waterings. Growers in the drier northern central part of the state may occasionally need to water the berries during droughts, although blackberries can survive moderate drought,