I have to get these blackberry plants in the ground before they die on me. My problem is that I don't know whether they are a vine or a bush. Do I need to plant them by a trellis or someplace where they can bush out?
They are the Navaho Thornless type...
Thank you for any information you can give on them...
Dianna
The way I did mine was, I drove 4 t-posts in the ground, and ran 4 strands of galvanized wire across the posts. I placed the wires about 12" apart, and the posts about 6' apart.
Then as the vine grow I wrap them around the wires. Blackberries take 2 years to grow fruit. The first year they grow canes, and the second year those cane produce fruit and then they die, and the plants grow new canes next year.
If the new canes touch the ground they will take root, and next year you can cut them loose and have another plant.
At the end of the year remove last years canes, and wrap this years canes around the wires. You may not even need the wires.
I have 1 Apache, 2 Chester, and 2 Black Satin plants.
Mine did grow a few berries last year, but they wern't any good. This year I expect to get a good crop. I just planted them last year.
So next year will be the year I plan for all the blackberry cobblers then? I can't wait!
I wonder how thornless these things really are? We have wild blackberries growing all over the yard that we bush-hog down every time we mow. Those things are vicious!
I just hope these things don't get snaky-looking like the blackberry patches I remember from childhood...
Dianna
I built a 2X6 box to put mine in. And yes they are thornless.
I started mine from canes abour 12" tall, and some of the canes are 6 to 8 ' long now.
I have 6 Navahos and I love them--they put out huge (big as a mans thumb) berries and are very sweet. They are thornless and the berries don't have as many seeds as the wild variety. Mine produced a few berries the first year, then a decent enough crop last year to make a couple of small cobblers. I can't wait for this years crop--it should be a good one
This year though, I will be covering my vines with bird netting so they don't eat half of my crop like they did last year
