How do I Grow Blackberries in Pennsylvania?

Locate the ideal planting site with lots of sunshine, fast-draining soil and space to provide for good air circulation among the plants. In Pennsylvania, north-facing gardens also give blackberries the best winter protection. But the black walnut trees common in the state produce a natural herbicide harmful to blackberries and other fruit. Plant your bush far from this tree's root zone. Also avoid areas where plants in the tomato family used to grow to prevent a soil-borne fungal infection caused by verticillium.

Collect a soil sample and submit it for testing in a clean plastic bag. The lab result you receive will also have instructions for amending the soil with precise amounts of each nutrient needed. Contact your local cooperative extension office for a list of labs that perform the test.

Break up the soil with a pick ax (or rent a rototiller) to a depth of about 6 inches. Amend it with 2 to 3 inches of compost or manure. At the same time, add the nutrients recommended as a result of the soil test. Rake the area to a smooth surface.

Dig a hole the size of the blackberry bush's root ball. If you have more than one bush, space them 3 to 5 feet apart. Put 8 feet between rows.

Plant the blackberry bush and backfill the hole with topsoil. Tap the ground around the base of the plant to remove air pockets.

Water the blackberry plant deeply after planting it. The bush requires 2 inches of water a week during the growing season and twice this amount starting one week before the fruit ripen until the end of harvest. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation. Overhead water increases the risk of fruit disease.

Apply up to 5 pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 feet of planted row during the blackberry's first growing season. Increase the maximum amount of fertilizer to 10 pounds per 100 feet in the following years. Always water your blackberry bush after fertilizing it.

Consult with your local cooperative extension office to identify and treat pests and diseases affecting your blackberry bush. Ask about the least toxic control methods to prevent contaminating your food crop with harmful chemicals.

Harvest blackberries if they detach easily when you roll them between your fingers. Morning after the dew has evaporated is the best time to collect the fruit. Pile them in shallow layers to prevent the bottom ones from being crushed. Eat them immediately or store them in the refrigerator for a week.