Sorting out the blackberry canes

 I cut out down the blackberry canes today and tied in this year's new ones. Another winter job completed. 

Blackberry picking in late summer is an annual ritual for many. It is a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon in the outdoors and there is a certain satisfaction in foraging food for free. Perhaps you have a favourite spot where you can usually be sure of good pickings. Blackberry plants are prodigious growers and abundant fruiters; there is bound to be somewhere to pick them not too far off.

Is it worth, therefore, growing blackberries at home? I would say yes, but only if you have growing space to spare — there are probably other berry fruits that come higher up the priority list if space is limited.

There are a number of benefits in growing your own blackberries. Modern cultivated varieties produce larger fruits, they can thrive in all but shallow chalky soils and they tolerate shade pretty well. Perhaps the biggest advantage of home grown blackberries is that there are now several thornless varieties available which can save your hands and arms from scratches and, if you train them, this makes the berries much more accessible compared to the inevitable over-stretching for a choice fruit in a wild blackberry clump. Blackberry bushes are also very attractive to bees and as they flower relatively late compared to most other berry fruits (May onwards) this is another good reason for growing them.

Although not so vigorous as wild blackberry bushes, cultivars can readily grow multiple eight feet (2.4m) stems in a summer season and can potentially take up a lot of space. One plant is probably enough for most  people, and being self-fertile a solitary plant will fruit perfectly well.

Most blackberry cultivars produce the majority of their fruit on year old canes, so the new canes thrown up in one summer need to be tied in ready for the following summer and the old canes which have fruited should be pruned out at ground level. This is what I was doing today.

As they are vigorous plants  it is important to keep on top of the pruning and training otherwise you will end up with a demoralising thicket. We have three plants, planted in a row six feet apart. The support structure consists of four sturdy 7’  posts along the row with horizontal strands of wire set 12” apart. The canes are tied to the support wires in an arc like fashion when the canes are still supple enough to bend.  Any weak canes are cut out as are any growing away from the line and finally any excess canes. As the new canes are tied in they can be evenly spaced along the support structure. I’ve used free standing posts but the same approach against a wall or fence will be fine too.

There are not too many disease or pest issues with blackberry plants. They are tough reliable plants. One thing to look out for, though, is the occasional stem growing out from the roots which have reverted to type and are extremely prickly (and so readily identifiable).  These need to be removed as soon as they are spotted otherwise they will eventually develop into a wild bramble bush. I wear thick gloves and pull them out so that they are detached at source. If they are just cut with secateurs they are likely to re-grow.

There are lots of things blackberries can be used for in the kitchen including desserts and cordials. But if you have a surplus they can be frozen on baking trays and then bagged up for future use. They retain their shape and structure very well when defrosted. We had a big crop this year so have plenty stashed away in the freezer.

Blackberries with grapes on the side