Blackberry
Common Name: Blackberry
Botanical Name: Rubus spp.
Family: Rosaceae
Type and Use: Perennial with edible flowers and fruit
Location: Full sun
Planting Dates: Late winter
Planting method: Root cuttings planted 2 inches below the surface in clay soils and 4 inches in sandy soil. Use little finger-sized cuttings about 6-8 inches long. Store in plastic bags at 45° if necessary.
Seed Emergence: Early spring
Harvest Time: Summer as the berries mature and are full colored, sweet and release easily. Most varieties will bear fruit for about two weeks or so in late May through early June.
Height: 3-5 feet
Spread: Far and wide if you don’t control the plants
Final Spacing: 24-36 inches in rows or 8-15 feet apart in hills. Use three plants per hill
Growth Habits: Easy to grow in almost any soil
Culture: Plant in full sun in healthy soil. Two year old canes bloom and produce fruit and then die after the fruit have matured. Prune the old canes out after harvesting because they will never produce again. Keep the plants cut to form a 3 foot high hedge. Do not do any winter pruning because the buds are formed in September.
Troubles and Solutions: Double blossom (rosette), anthracnose, redneck cane borer, and a few other minor problems. The worst problem with blackberries is the aggressive spreading characteristic.
Harvest Storage: Harvest the berries as they ripen and turn dark purple. Eat right away or store in the refrigerator, 32-40° for about two weeks max.
Notes: Don’t allow suckers at the base of plants to spread.
Varieties: Brazos is probably the best choice. Comanche, Humble, Brison, Choctaw, Navaho, Wommack and Rosborough (considered the best tasting by many). It’s best to avoid Gem, Lawton, Young, Barpen, Fluit, and the old thornless varieties. The best raspberry for Texas are Doman red. They should only be grown in sandy acid soils.
Natchez (Thornless)
A very large early ripening blackberry, with high yields. Ripens June 3rd. In zone 7. Fruit size comparable to Apache Blk. Berry, and holds it large size through fruiting season. Yields very good comparable to Ouachita blk. Berry. Flavor and quality have been good, the plant is not as erect as other Arkansas types, and would benefit from trellis system. Fruit has held up very good in storage. No disease problems have been observed.
Ouachita (Thornless)
Forth release of patented thornless blackberry from the University of Arkansas. Ripens June 12th in Arkansas. Very productive, medium to large fruit, sweet, firm berries. Suitable for fresh market or commercial shipping. Good disease resistant. Very erect, free standing plant that will bridge the gap between Arapaho and Navaho. Zones 5-8.
Triple Crown (Thornless)
This variety is a semi erect type plant, bears very heavy, large fruit with excellent flavor. It will be earlier ripening than the Chester and is as winter hardy as Chester, makes a very sturdy cane system. Winds do not affect this variety as bad as others; canes do not brake at base, like some types do.
Navaho (Thornless)
First ever thornless Blackberry that's erect and self-supporting. Has glossy black berries, sweeter and firmer than previous thornless varieties, with smaller seed size. Also very winter hardy. This Patented variety requires little maintenance. No wires or trellis needed. Ripens June 20 in zone 7.
Q: Some of our blackberries have small to large portions that turn a tannish color on the vine. Any idea what may be causing this?
A: A blackberry grower friend tells me this is a common problem of Apache blackberries. It is a genetic defect that is associated with a pathogen. The disease can be addressed by spraying PureGro but you may want to plant some other varieties. Ouachita is his favorite. Here’s some info on the other choices.
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