Organic Blackberry Plants

Where to Plant

• Blackberries need plenty of room and sunlight, and do well set on hills of soil about six or seven feet apart. At least two varieties (possibly a thornless and a thorny variety together) should be planted, because many varieties are self-sterile and need to be crossed with others to produce good fruit. According to the University of Maine extension, brambles should not be planted in the same soil where eggplant, peppers, potatoes, or tomatoes have grown in the past four years due to threat of root disease.

When to Plant

• Plant blackberries as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, and amend soil with plenty of compost. In the autumn, after the plants stop producing fruit, barley, oats and buckwheat can be used as cover crops for the winter. With good care and careful pruning, blackberry plants will generally live 10 to 12 years.

Pests

• Aphids can be a problem during the height of fruiting season, but natural enemies (like ladybugs) can be employed to combat these pests. Japanese beetles present a greater challenge for organic growers because the best method to combat these beetles is hand picking or trapping them, both of which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Organic growers may find some success in tilling the soil with beneficial nematodes which attack the grub or larval stage of the beetles and reduce their numbers.

Success With Blackberries

• Careful attention to blackberry plants is the best way to successfully grow them: this includes liberal use of compost and mulch to maintain a rich, moist, organic soil. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service also recommends the use of "refugia," an integrated pest management system that incorporates cover crops and nearby plantings to harbor beneficial insects and promote biodiversity--a natural way to keep pests to a minimum.