When to plant blackberries

When to plant: three UK dates

Three UK sources give three slightly different planting windows.

The RHS growing guide says mid-autumn to early spring is ideal planting time.

Garden Organic plants out from October to February.

A shorter RHS fact sheet on blackberries says plant from January to April.

All three include January and February. Only the RHS fact sheet runs on into April.

Bare-root or in a pot

The RHS says plants bought in pots can be planted all year round, but avoid planting in hot, dry weather.

Bare-root plants are cheaper, but the RHS says they are only available from autumn to spring, and should be planted straight away.

Blackberries are widely available in garden centres and online, the RHS says. Hybrid berries are mainly sold online by fruit nurseries and other specialist suppliers.

Where to plant

The RHS says to choose a sunny, sheltered site to get the best crop, although blackberries will fruit in light shade. They like fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid planting in areas that are likely to become waterlogged. If your soil is poor, dig in compost or manure before planting.

Garden Organic also chooses well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered site.

Put the wires up first

Before planting, put a support system of horizontal wires in place, the RHS says. Space the wires about 45 cm apart, with the lowest about 45 cm above the ground. Garden Organic ties the canes to horizontal wires for extra support.

How far apart to plant blackberries

The RHS gives 2.5–3.5 m between plants for moderately vigorous varieties, and up to 4 m for particularly vigorous ones. Garden Organic spaces plants 2.5 to 4 m apart. The RHS fact sheet gives 2.5–4.5 m for container-grown plants, depending on the cultivar.

If you plant against a wall, the RHS digs the hole at least 30 cm from the base.

Short of space? The RHS says compact types such as 'Little Black Prince' can be grown in a pot, reaching about 1 m tall and wide. Use a pot at least 45 cm wide and deep, filled with loam-based compost such as peat-free John Innes No 3.

Planting depth and cutting back

Plant a pot-grown blackberry at the same level it was growing in the container. For a bare-root plant, the RHS sets it so the uppermost roots are about 5 cm below the soil surface.

Straight after planting, cut down all the stems to healthy buds 20–25 cm from the ground, the RHS says. This generally means no fruit in the first year, but it encourages strong new shoots and good establishment. Those new shoots, trained along the wires, fruit in summer the following year.

Watering and mulching

Water well immediately after planting, the RHS says, and during any prolonged dry spells in the first growing season. Plants two or three years old generally need no extra watering.

Mulching in early spring helps plants produce a good crop. The RHS applies a 5–7.5 cm layer of organic mulch, such as garden compost, and leaves a slight gap around the base of the stems to prevent rotting. Mulched plants usually need no extra feed. If crops are poor, it applies an organic-based granular general fertiliser in early spring.

When will you pick?

The RHS says the fruit ripens from mid-summer to early autumn, depending on the variety. Harvest every few days, picking any fruits that are plump and juicy. Garden Organic harvests from July to October, and the RHS fact sheet gives July to September.

Birds love the fruit. The RHS covers plants with netting or fleece, and suggests netting raised on a frame.

Some varieties are thornless, but many have sharp prickles, so the RHS wears thick gloves. It names 'Loch Ness' as compact with thornless stems.