How to Plant Blackberries in Kansas

Break up the soil to an 18-inch depth using a garden fork or rototiller. Test the pH of the soil using a soil testing kit from a garden center or plant nursery. Blackberry plants prefer planting in soil with a pH between 5.6 and 6.2. If you are uncomfortable testing the soil yourself, Kansas State University offers soil analysis for a small fee.

Amend your Kansas soil if necessary. Kansas has approximately 300 types of soil, spanning 52 million acres, so you will need to adjust the pH if your soil does not meet the requirements for blackberries. Add lime to the soil if the pH is below 5.6. Mix peat moss in with the soil if the pH is above 6.2. Add the required amendment to the soil in your planting area following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Dig planting holes for the blackberry seedlings large enough to accommodate the root balls. Space the holes at least 2 feet apart, in rows 7 feet apart. Deposit one blackberry plant in the center of each hole. Backfill the holes with the soil, patting afterward to remove trapped air.

Provide your blackberries with at least 1 inch of supplemental watering per week with a soaker hose during their first growing season. Kansas receives approximately 29 inches of rainfall per year, which is not enough to sustain newly planted blackberries. Watering one to two times per week in lieu of rain should suffice.

Feed the blackberries a 12-12-12 fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to label instructions. Kansas blackberries appreciate a dose of fertilizer two to three weeks after planting, usually during the last week of May or first week of June for blackberries planted after the final frost of winter.

Anchor the blackberries with a trellis. Kansas is a windy place. In fact, Dodge City, Kansas, is the windiest city in the U.S., with winds averaging 13.9 mph. For this reason, Kansas blackberry plants grow best when provided with support. A trellis that measures between 4 and 10 feet, hammered in 1 to 2 inches behind the blackberry plants provides adequate support. Attach the main stems of each blackberry plant to the support using elastic twine.

Prune the blackberry plants in the early spring to increase vigor. The winter temperatures in Kansas can plummet to a frosty minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter frost can leave its mark on dormant blackberry stems. Use a pruning tool to remove dead or frost damaged wood after each Kansas winter.