Fruits collected from wild blackberries in the forest often grow in surprising numbers without human intervention. On the other hand, blackberries cultivated in the garden not only have to be cared for, but also fertilized regularly.

Berries generally require regular feedings

Many berry bushes in the garden often bring an amazing yield compared to their height. To do this, however, they also have to absorb a corresponding amount of water and nutrients from the soil via their roots. If the fruit on blackberry tendrils does not ripen as desired, this can not only indicate a disease, but also an insufficient intake of certain nutrients and minerals. With all fertilizer applications, the pH value of the soil should not be disregarded. For blackberries, this should be around 5 and tend towards a slightly acidic environment.

The needs of blackberries to the ground

Blackberries need enough potassium in the soil for a rich fruit stock. Special berry fertilizer (€3.94) takes this into account with a correspondingly high potassium content. The high nutrient requirement of blackberries can also be explained by the high annual growth rate of the plants. Since fruit only develops on two-year-old wood, harvested tendrils are cut off near the ground in autumn, whereupon new shoots form. Chemical fertilizers such as the popular blue grain should be sprinkled around the plants in modest doses, especially in spring and possibly again before the ripening period. The grains then usually dissolve within about two weeks due to the rain and continuously release their ingredients into the soil and the blackberry roots.

Biological alternatives for fertilizing blackberries

If blackberries are to ripen in the garden according to organic cultivation criteria, chemical fertilizer mixtures must be avoided. But there are also many green alternatives to blue grain nowadays, apart from the classic garden compost. These primarily include the following biological fertilizers:

  • Cow manure in pellet form
  • chicken manure
  • horse manure
  • Mulch (€239.00) made from lawn clippings

Fresh stable manure should be stored for a few weeks before being used as fertilizer. You should also work any organic fertilizer into the substrate around the blackberry roots by hand.

tips and tricks

When planting young blackberries in one location, some compost or manure should always be worked into the excavation hole to give the plant a jump-start.

Category:

Vegetable garden