Do you know how to prune blackberries properly?

A walk in the woods does not have to be just about relieving stress. It can also be about picking all kinds of fruit. Blueberries are probably the most popular. Almost everyone loves a cake made with those small blue berries. Raspberries and blackberries are no different. If you like blackberries and grow them in your garden, you will find this article on how to prune them properly useful. It is not rocket science, but our tips are still worth having.

Caring for blackberries in spring

Cottage owners and gardeners eagerly await the arrival of spring. On the first warmer days, they slowly start planting vegetables while admiring the sprouting tulips rising from the cold soil. But they also look forward to fruit, such as that of the blackberry bush. Spring is the best time to prune it so that it produces a big harvest. Remember that it usually fruits on one-year-old canes, while the older branches protect it from frost in winter. Apart from these varieties, there are also remontant (everbearing) ones. Their advantage is that they fruit twice a year: first in autumn and then in June of the following year. With these, you need to cut the cane below the point where the fruit grew in autumn. Do not worry about harming them. After winter, the canes will branch out again.

Pruning in the first year

If your blackberries have canes that are too long, definitely shorten them to two or three buds. You certainly will not harm them. On the contrary, you will encourage growth. The blackberry will start producing young shoots from the buds you can see. Then, once the canes reach a length of one metre, tie them to the support you have prepared. In the first and then the second year, leave three canes, and after that add up to six canes. Cut off any surplus ones at ground level.

How to do summer pruning

After spring pruning, you also need to do summer pruning. It is best done every year between July and August. This is because the blackberry’s branches need to be tamed. In June, focus on the tips of the main canes and shorten them to four or five leaves. You can then look forward to a juicy harvest and a bush that is easier to manage.

Tying in blackberries

Wondering when to tie in your blackberries? The key thing to realise is that this plant comes in two types. Trailing types need a support structure built right at planting. Upright types do not need to be tied in. It is enough to thread the individual canes between a double wire. Keep the height below two metres.

Pests

A big advantage of blackberries is that they do not suffer much from disease. However, blackberry rust may occasionally appear. You should also expect fruit brown rot (monilinia), although no protective treatment is used against it. You can prevent such pests by choosing the right variety and keeping the bushes airy.

When to harvest

You will have to wait until the second year after planting for your first blackberry harvest, after which the plant will fruit regularly. The fruit is best picked in summer, when it ripens gradually over 2–7 weeks. The berries are black and very juicy with a sweet and sour taste. They are best eaten fresh, or you can make them into compote, jam or fruit wine. Do not forget the leaves either, they have medicinal properties.  

Blackberries are tempting and undemanding. Try some healthy desserts too, which you will quickly come to love.