Train Blackberries to a Garden Trellis

Date:  March 24, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- New Mexico gardeners can plant a bit of history in their gardens with blackberry brambles. Blackberries have been grown by man for more than 2,000 years, both for their edible fruit and for medicinal purposes, said a New Mexico State University horticulture specialist.

"Blackberries, particularly Western trailing types, tend to be sensitive to cold weather and often have to be protected with straw in the winter in colder areas of the state," said George Dickerson, with NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service. "Erect Indian varieties like 'Choctaw' and 'Kiowa' tend to be more hardy."

Dickerson grows the variety 'Black Satin' in his home garden because it is thornless and flowers over a long time. "I have it trained to the eastern side of a west wall in my yard," he said. "The wall acts like a heat sink, protecting the plant from cool night temperatures, and shades the berries in the summer making them sweeter."

Blackberries have perennial root systems and biennial canes. "This means that the canes produced this summer will have to survive the winter to bear fruit next summer," Dickerson said.

Although blackberries prefer acid soils, they will tolerate some alkalinity in New Mexico soils that are improved with a lot of compost or peat moss. Soak bareroot cuttings in water for a short time before planting them in the spring.

Trim off any broken roots and spread the remaining roots evenly in the planting hole. Cover roots firmly with soil and water after planting. Cut the tops of the plants back to 6 inches to balance the top growth with the trimmed roots.

"Most blackberries, trailing or erect varieties, grow best when trained to a trellis," Dickerson said. "Trellising makes the fruit easier to pick and improves air circulation, controlling most leaf and fruit diseases."