Description
A single blackberry plant will produce abundant fruit, which is delicious and an excellent source of anthocyanins. These are plant pigments that are antioxidants, which stimulate the immune system and are known to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and more. They’re best enjoyed straight from the bush, warmed by the sun.
Our cultivar of blackberry grows quite erect before branching out. It can tolerate heat, humidity, and temperatures as cold as -20° Celsius.
Grow in slightly acidic, well-drained soil with a PH level between 5.6 – 7.0.
Full sun or partial shade.
Grows to approximately 2m before branching out. Needs a fence or trellis to climb.
Position
Plant your blackberry bush in full sun, if possible. They can tolerate partial shade if full sun isn’t an option. Plant them against a trellis or fence to allow them to creep as they grow.
Size
An erect stem reaches a height of about 2 metres before becoming a rambler.
Soil Type
They aren’t too fussy about the soil, but thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH 5.6 and 7.0. Good drainage and soil rich in compost are important.
Dig a 50cm x 50cm deep hole and add a bag of compost or acid compost. For excellent results, mix our Berry/All-plant Fertiliser and Volcanic Rock Dust into the top section of the soil.
Make a little hole and plant, ensuring you don’t add the soil higher than where the soil is in the bag. Place the plant directly into the soil mixture and cover it with pine bark mulch. Water well.
Volcanic Rock Dust contains organic minerals and trace elements to boost the health of your soil and increases the micro-organisms that are essential for healthy ground.
Avoid planting this bush in soil that was previously used for tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant.
Watering
Keep your blackberry roots moist, and increase your watering slightly in the fruiting season. Be careful not to water the foliage, though. Only water the soil. Give it a good soaking every 2 to 3 days if there’s been no rain in summer. During the winter, water it lightly twice a week.
Mulch
To maintain the soil acidity, apply good organic mulch like pine -bark around the plant every few months. Keep the mulch about 20 centimetres away from the stems to prevent them from rotting.
Fertilising
Fertilise your plant with one teaspoon of our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertiliser every 4-5 months.
Pruning
Cut back dead or diseased canes in winter so that the plant can focus its resources on healthy, productive limbs. Like most other bramble fruits, blackberries bear best on old wood, which stems in their second or third year. If you cut them back heavily in spring, the growth is fresh and considered new wood, limiting your fruit supply.
Harvesting
Pretty pink flowers in early summer are followed by fruit ready to harvest from late summer into autumn. The berries are ready to be picked when they are fully black, juicy, and slightly soft. They should pull away from the plant easily without having to be tugged.
