Blackberries are one of those plants in the garden that actually grow well with relatively little intervention from the gardener. With a view to a rich harvest and healthy plants, however, certain care measures should be carried out regularly.

Do you have to water blackberries?

If blackberries are planted in a humus-rich substrate, they usually do not necessarily need to be watered. However, if there is a prolonged dry period during the ripening period in summer, you should water the blackberry plants either early in the morning or in the evening.

How to transplant blackberries?

The ideal time for transplanting blackberries is early spring. As soon as the ground is no longer frozen, individual blackberry rods can be dug up deep with the roots and planted in a loose and humus-rich substrate at the new location. The transplanting should be completed by the end of April, otherwise the blackberries will no longer grow well.

When and how should blackberries be cut?

Since blackberries only bear fruit on two-year-old wood, the old shoots must be removed regularly. This can happen in the fall right after harvest, when the new shoots have already grown out of the ground. In addition, individual rods should be clipped at a length of around 2.5 meters in the spring to encourage the formation of side shoots. The side shoots, in turn, should be cut off after the second eye.

Which fungi and pests can be dangerous for blackberries?

Even if you take the best possible care of your blackberries, you will eventually come across blackberry gall mites in addition to aphids and flower stingers. These suck on the fruits so that they do not ripen but remain red in color. The best antidote is pruning before winter, as the mites hibernate on the leaf buds.

What to do about blackberry diseases?

To prevent fungal diseases and other diseases, the blackberry bush should be regularly brought into shape. A trellis ensures light and well-ventilated growth of the plants.

How are blackberries properly fertilized?

Specialty fertilizer for berries from the garden supply store often contains potassium to support optimal growth. However, the following biological alternatives can also be used:

  • horse manure
  • chicken manure
  • Cow manure pellets

    • Lawn clippings in mulched form

How do blackberries winter and what care do they need at this time?

Blackberries planted outdoors generally do not require any special winter protection. However, the old and harvested tendrils should be cut off near the ground before winter so that pests are decimated in their population.

tips and tricks

The annual and biannual tendrils of brambles on a trellis can be more easily distinguished if they are directed towards the two sides in an annual alternation.

Category:

Vegetable garden