I’m sharing expert gardening tips specific to blackberries to boost our brain power and to document the development of our small farm & garden.
Blackberry madness started with three thornless varieties given to us by Duane Marcus at The Funny Farm in Stone Mountain, GA, where we spent eight weekends in organic gardening classes back in 2011. I would like to ship and sell organic, thornless, primacane blackberry vines through our forthcoming WordPress store.
Over a ten year period, these three vines gave way to 12 quality small fruit plants at Brookside Park, Atlanta, 100 trellised vines at God’s Farm, 100 trellised vines at the Allen’s Farm and finally, 142 vines at our farm in Mentone, AL. Per gallon, the price of blackberries is higher than fuel. It’s like owning an oil well. Sort of.
Fertilization, irrigation and pruning are critical and greatly increase yield.
FERTILIZATION
Fertilizing can be done three times a year. It is best to apply a balanced fertilizer, such as 13-13-13, to each plant. Apply half a cup the first week in April, 1/4 cup the first week of May, and 1/2 cup after the fruit is harvested, because you are growing next year’s plants.
IRRIGATION
A deluxe drip irrigation kit for small farms cost $230 from Drip Depot, but it ran the well dry after 45 minutes of continuous watering. Fortunately, our good friend had six 2,500 gallon water tanks delivered in a big rig trailer, so if we hit a dry spell, we can stay alive with rainwater harvesting, that is rain that will collect in gutters that channel the water into downspouts and then into the water tanks. Noah did not even know what rain was. I guess he found out.
PRUNING
Pruning should be done during late May, June and July. But how do you prune those suckers? They pop up everywhere! As new canes emerge to 36-40 inches, or thigh to waist high, snap the ends off with your hand. This snapping creates lateral branching. The second pruning should occur when the lateral branches are two feet long. Finally, cut the old canes as soon as you finish harvesting. Old canes will have three leaves, called floricans, while the new canes will have five leaves, called primacanes. Don’t mess up.
TRELLISING
Trellised vines are a necessity. A practical way to trellis is between two wires anchored by 2 T post at either end. The first wire is 20 inches from the ground and trellised 20 inches apart. The second wire is 5 ft high and trellised 32 inches apart. Lateral branches can be tied up in a ¥ pattern with a Tapner tape gun.
ORGANIC FUNGICIDE
Pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are monsters in disguise, and greatly aid the steady stream of toxins in our planet. We are called to be stewards of the earth at a genetic level. Hydrogen peroxide, an organic fungicide in this case, can be sprayed directly onto plants every 2 weeks, sometimes weekly in wet and high humidity times, hence, well drained soils are important. Nonetheless, blackberries will typically last 4-7 years without spraying.
You’re all set to start growing next year’s plants.
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