I’ll be growing blackberry bushes for the first time this year. I actually don’t like blackberries (or any berries for that matter), which I understand is apparently criminal. To atone for my sins, I will be growing some blackberries for my wife and berry-loving friends.
I ordered a 3-pack of Sweetie Pie blackberry plants from Baker Creek, and they arrived today.
I wish I could say I consciously chose Sweetie Pie after a ton of research, but that would be a lie. However, since receiving the seedlings, I have done a a very little bit of reading to better understand what I need to do to create the best conditions for them. Here are the key things I learned:
- Specially bred by the USDA to be resistant to a common fungal disease (Rosette)
- Thornless!
- Very sweet
- Should probably grow with the support of a trellis
We’ve decided to grow our blackberries along the fence that runs behind the garden beds (pictured on the left in the photo below).
The fence will serve as a backboard, and I can construct a simple wire trellis that sticks out from the fence. I took my trellis inspiration from this diagram via Just Fruits and Exotics. By using the pre-existing fence, I can avoid putting new posts in the ground.
I’m going to secure some simple wall mount shelf brackets into my fence posts and string some garden wire between them. I will create small 1′ x 1′ beds on the ground bordered by pressure treated 2×6 lumber. The small beds will provide a base for each blackberry bush that edges out the rubber mulch that surrounds my garden beds. All together, the materials should only cost around $25.
As for transplanting the blackberry seedlings, it’s still a little too cold out. So, I will keep them inside with my tomato seedlings until it’s warmer. Once they’re transplanted, I’ll be taking inspiration from this very helpful Southern Living article on how to train the bush and trim the canes to maximize yield.