GROWING BLACKBERRIES ORGANICALLY IN YOUR GARDEN

As a way of minimizing the number of chemicals we consume and to reduce our impact on the environment, growing blackberries organically is the best and sustainable choice. Blackberries and other berries such as blueberries and strawberries must be part of your diet, whether you eat them fresh or freeze them for later. Blackberries are good for you because they are full of vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and have a high concentration of antioxidants (which is good for reducing heart problems and increasing brain alertness). Also, the acids produced in blackberries help kill oral bacteria that cause periodontal/gum diseases. 

TYPES OF BLACKBERRIES 

Blackberries are perennials—they come back year after year. Even though there are different varieties of blackberries in terms of size (small, big) and sweetness, basically blackberries have three main types: 

• Erect thorny blackberries support themselves and examples are Cheyenne, Cherokee, Shawnee, and Brazos.
• Erect thornless blackberries also support themselves; examples are Arapaho and Navaho.
• Trailing thornless blackberries, such as Olallie, require long canes to support them. 

GROWING BLACKBERRIES 

The right time to plant blackberries is in spring or fall when the temperature is cool and not too hot. Early spring and late fall is the best time to plant. Avoid the cold weather as many types of blackberry seeds die. Since blackberries are perennial, once the roots have taken hold, you are just waiting for them to grow into strong plants.

Before growing blackberries, check your zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and see if the temperature is right for growing blackberries in your state. The hardiness zones for blackberry plants are between zones 5 and 10. For me, I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and my zone is 7a with extreme weather averaging between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 degrees Celsius.)

When selecting a place for growing blackberries, find a site that receives full sun. Plant the seeds about 5 feet apart, for erect types, and between 5 to 8 feet apart, for trailing types. In terms of depth, plant shallowly, about 1 inch deep. If you have raspberries, plant your blackberries as far away as possible, some farmers suggest about 300 feet away because to avoid disease contamination.

Growing blackberries in containers is possible, but may not be ideal because blackberries’ roots spread out instead of going deep down. If the pot is shallow and wide it can work. People with small spaces prefer to grow blackberries in pots as they are contained and don’t escape to other spaces allocated to other plants. Use canes to support the plant. 

USE NATURAL GARDEN FERTILIZER TO GROW ORGANIC BLACKBERRIES 

Blackberries need good fertile and well-drained soil. Give a good watering once a week, however, in hot weather water more—but never leave the soil wet. 

To improve soil conditions in your garden and as a way of fertilizing blackberries, use natural organic garden fertilizer such as manure, compost, or other organic food for plants sold in shops. Blackberries prefer acidic soil—fresh coffee grounds can be added as fertilizer because they are acidic and help with water drainage. 

CARING FOR YOUR BLACKBERRIES

Don’t forget to prune the blackberry bush throughout its growth period to encourage the plants to produce good fruits. 

You would also want to put a thick layer of mulch around the plant to kill weeds and keep moisture. 

Look out for yellowish or bleached-looking leaves and leaves with blotches, among other disturbances, to tell if your blackberry plant might be suffering from diseases. For more information on pests and diseases and how to treat them click here.

HARVESTING: HOW TO KNOW BLACKBERRY FRUITS ARE RIPE

Ripe blackberries are fully black. The red ones are not yet mature. You don’t want to wait until blackberry fruits are falling off the plant before starting picking. Once the blackberries start turning black, start harvesting—the berries don’t ripe all at once, therefore you will need to wait a couple of days for the red ones to become black. Expect harvesting from late spring to around early summer.

Storing your blackberries: Since blackberries are perishable within a few days, you might want to freeze some for later if you are not able to consume them all at once. Other preservation methods you can use include drying and canning.