Blackberry & Raspberry Planting Guide
Planning
Well-drained, sandy, rich soil is best for berries. Brambles do not tolerate flooding and may grow poorly in mucky soils unless planted on a raised mound. All berries will grow faster and produce more fruit if planted in full sun.
Planting
Brambles prefer slightly acid soil (pH 6.0-6.5), but soil of up to moderate alkalinity are tolerated. If you are in doubt of the acidity of your soil, take a sample to the Cooperative Extension Agent in your county for testing. You can also enrich the bed with 1 to 3 inches of aged manure or mushroom compost. Beds may be mulched with organic mulches like hay, oat straw, bark and leaves.
NOTE: For trailing varieties and raspberry plants, you will need a trellis. To construct a simple trellis use two 7-8 feet upright posts sunk 2 feet in the ground leaving 5-6 feet above ground. Anchor end posts. Attach three 9-gauge wires at 18-inch intervals beginning 24 inches from the ground. Place posts no more than 20 feet apart for best stability (diagram has posts at 10 ft.). Dig your planting hole 5 feet from the posts, leaving 10 feet between plants.
NOTE: Plant erect varieties at least 2 to 3 feet apart in the row with 15 feet between rows. Trailing varieties need to be spaced 10 foot apart in rows 15 foot apart.
Before planting make sure the plants are well watered and the soil in your planting hole is not excessively dry. Remove the plant from the pot and place in the planting hole. To avoid burying too deep, make sure plant is positioned with the top most roots at the soil line. If plants have a tightly packed root system gently work the root ball loose. Water thoroughly, to settle the roots and eliminate air pockets. Do NOT put fertilize in the planting hole. Only apply fertilizer if it is the correct time of year (see Fertilization section below). Six to 12 canes per plant should produce 2-3 gallons of fruit, if plants are properly fertilized and watered.
Water
For the first few weeks your plant is in a critical stage, it has not been established yet. Water every other day for the first week after they are set out. After they are well established, water thoroughly twice a week on light soil and once a week on clay soil. Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply. This should take 40-50 minutes.
Also make sure you mulch your plants with 2 to 3 inches of hay, bark or leaves. Pull mulch a few inches away from the base of the plant for good air circulation. Mulch is very important, it will help hold water in the soil as well as add organic content to your soil. Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Fruit may drop prematurely is insufficiently irrigated during dry spells.
Fertilization
Chemical or organic, whatever you may choose makes sure that it contains iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, copper and boron. These elements are crucial to the plants growth. Application rates may vary. See chart below:
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Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 & on |
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10-10-10 or 10-0-10 with minerals |
Sprinkle 2/3 cup in a 24-inch circle around each plant in late February. In late May and June, sprinkle 2/3 cup in a 30-inch circle around each plant. |
Sprinkle 1 cup in a 36-inch circle around each plant in late February, late May and late July. |
Sprinkle 2 cup in a 4ft circle around each plant in late February, late May and late July. |
Sprinkle 3 cup for every 4ft of row. Spread fertilizer in a 4ft wide band down the row. |
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Espoma Citrus Tone (Organic) |
Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of Citrus Tone in a 24-inch circle around each plant in late February. In late May & late July, sprinkle 1 ½ cups of Citrus Tone in a 30-inch circle around each plant. |
Sprinkle 2 ½ cups of Citrus Tone in a 36-inch circle around each plant in late February, late May and late July. |
Sprinkle 4 cups of Citrus Tone around each plant in a 4ft circle in late February, late May and late July. |
Sprinkle 6 cups for every 4ft of row. Spread fertilizer in a 4ft wide band down the row. |
Be sure to spread the fertilizer of your choosing, evenly over the plants root zone. In Zone 8 through 9 fertilize 3 times each year in late February, late May and late July/early August. For plants further north (Zones 6-7), fertilize 2 times each year in March and June. NEVER FERTILIZE AFTER AUGUST (JUNE IN ZONES 6-7). As this will promote growth late in the year and your plants will be subject to freeze damage.
For hedgerow plantings of Blackberry and Raspberry plants the amount of fertilizer applied increases each year until the 4th year after planting. By the 3rd year the plants should have grown together, so apply your fertilizer for every four foot of row, spreading the fertilizer in a four foot wide band down the row.
Pruning
For trellised varieties: fruit is produced on a 2-year-old canes. Which die after fruiting. New canes will sprout in the spring and will fruit the following year. The first year after planting the canes you planted will fruit. Now you should take the original canes and wrap through the wires for the fruiting season. The current year’s canes should be allowed to run along the ground. After fruiting, cut and remove the canes that have fruited. Thread the new canes through the trellis. Spread canes evenly through the trellis and thread carefully to avoid breakage and support the canes.
For erect or upright varieties: fruit is produced on a 2 year-old canes, which die after fruiting. New canes that sprout in the spring will fruit the following year. In the first year after planting, the canes you planted will fruit and should be removed after they die. The new canes produced from the original canes you planted in spring, should be topped to about 40 inches in early summer to encourage lateral branching, and then allowed to grow until the winter dormant season. In each succeeding year, remove the current year’s fruiting canes after the produce fruit.
