How to Grow Blackberries: Planting, Spacing, Care & Harvest

Quick answer

Plant blackberries in early spring, about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost (Clemson). Space erect types 2 to 4 feet in the row and trailing or semi-trailing 6 to 8 feet; rows about 10 feet (Clemson). Ripe berries lose their glossy shine and turn slightly dull.

Ripe blackberries (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · source · license

Blackberries at a glance

Plant6–4 wk before last frost
SunFull sun; well-drained soils with pH about 6.0–6.5 (Clemson).
WaterApply about 1 inch of water per week by irrigation if rainfall falls short.
SpacingClemson: semi-trailing varieties 6 to 8 feet apart in the row with rows 10 feet apart; erect varieties 2 to 4 feet in the row and rows 10 feet.
Days to harvestPerennial cane fruit
-7-6-5-4-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
Jump to

Updated

Planting dates for your ZIP: the ZIP planting planner counts each window from your local frost dates.

Organic pests and diseases: see also organic pest control. Use any product as the label directs.

Blackberries (Rubus spp.) — cultivated cane fruit. Keep separate from raspberries.

Ripe blackberries
Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus). Photo: Ivar Leidus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized).

Planting timing

Clemson HGIC 1400: “Plant blackberries in early spring, about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost.” When planting, set the crown about 2 inches below the soil line; for root cuttings, cover 4 to 6 inches deep in sandy soils or 3 to 4 inches in clay. (Clemson HGIC blackberry) Planner: Plant last frost −6 to −4. NC State notes spring planting in western NC and spring or fall in central and eastern NC — a regional calendar, not frost weeks. (NC State blackberries)

Depth and spacing

Clemson: semi-trailing varieties 6 to 8 feet apart in the row with rows 10 feet apart; erect varieties 2 to 4 feet in the row and rows 10 feet. Crown about 2 inches below the soil line.

Sun, soil and water

Full sun; well-drained soils with pH about 6.0–6.5 (Clemson). Apply about 1 inch of water per week by irrigation if rainfall falls short. Prefer a soil test and compost; we omit printed synthetic fertilizer rates.

Care

A V-trellis is a common support. Tip erect primocanes; remove spent floricanes after harvest (Clemson). Keep a weed-free strip about 2 to 3 feet wide on either side of the row.

Harvest

Clemson: blackberries are ripe and at peak flavor when they “lose their glossy shine and turn slightly dull.”

Pests and diseases

Clemson lists aphids, Japanese beetles, stink bugs, spotted-wing drosophila, spider mites, and crown borers. “Biological control and mechanical removal of these pests are often enough to minimize damage.” Remove fruit as it ripens and do not leave overripe fruit on the plant. Diseases include crown gall, cane anthracnose and blight, mildews and rusts, rosette (double blossom), and Botrytis fruit rot — site choice, air flow, pruning, and removing diseased tissue first. Prefer cultural controls; use any product as the label directs.

Related: ZIP planner · organic pest control · raspberries · strawberries · all grow guides

Frequently asked questions

When do I plant blackberries?

Early spring, about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost (Clemson).

How far apart?

Erect types 2 to 4 feet in the row; semi-trailing 6 to 8 feet; rows about 10 feet (Clemson).

How do I know blackberries are ripe?

They lose their glossy shine and turn slightly dull (Clemson).

More grow guides: All grow guides

Sources