How to grow Blackberries

Interested in growing your own Blackberries? This guide has everything you need to know, from sun requirements to planting tips.

Plant Blackberries in rich, well draining soil. Mix in plenty of compost and well rotted manure to retain moisture.

Plant Blackberries in full sun to afternoon shade. 

Yes, Blackberry plants are frost tolerant. 

Plant Blackberries roughly 1m apart.  

Late autumn or early spring is the best time to transplant most dormant berry plants. Plants, with the exception of bare-root, can be transplanted at anytime between when the ground thaws and when it freezes (so anytime if you are in a frost free climate). However, if transplanting in the heat of summer, you'll need to be diligent in watering and provide extra shade for your plant in the first few weeks after transplanting.

Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. The hole should allow the plant to sit at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Fill the hole with soil ensuring that the crown of the plant, where the roots and stem meet, is level with the soil surface. 

Plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Apply an organic fertiliser 3-4 weeks after planting your Blackberry plants. 

Top dress the soil around the berry plant with well rotted compost and fertliliser in early spring, each year. Fertilise again in late autumn. An organic liquid fertiliser can be used throughout the season if leaves or fruit begin to show signs of deficiency. 

Add a 2 inch layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture. 

Continuous harvest the Blackberries throughout the season when berries are black in colour.

Pests that can affect Blackberry bushes include: Aphids, Mites, Weevils, Earwig, Slug, Snail.  

Diseases that can affect Blackberry bushes include: Cane Blight, Gray Mold, Leaf Spot, Spur Blight, Rust, Fire Blight, Leaf Curl, Mosaic Virus, Raspberry Ringspot, Phytophthora Root Rot, Blackcurrant Reversion Disease. 

At the end of the season, prune the Blackberry bush in order to remove old or unproductive wood. Open up the centre to let light and air in by removing any overlapping branches, this will help to prevent disease and increase growth and fruit production in the next season.