Epic Gardening
Thornless Blackberry Bush
Thornless Blackberry Bush
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Product Details
Product Details
The blackberry is one of the most widely grown in the world, perhaps because it's also one of the easiest berries to grow. It produces a bountiful crop in summer.
Unlike other blackberry varieties, Prime-Ark® Freedom thornless blackberries produce fruit on new wood. You should experience a good crop even in the first year! In years 2+, you'll see two harvests, with your first harvest from the new canes and a second harvest later in the season from the prior year's canes.
This thornless, tall shrub produces large, sweet, juicy dark blackberries that are perfect for eating fresh, baking, or for preserving for out-of-season use.
Its pretty white flowers form in clusters on the canes in spring, making way for luscious, deep red to black berries in July and August. While self-fertile, grouping multiple plants will substantially improve yields. Provide 150-200 chill hours for best fruit development.
All blackberries are grown from propagated cuttings and are not grafted.
Note: This item will not ship to AZ and OR.
All sales final. For any questions, please reach out to customer support for assistance.
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Specification
Specification
1-2 ft tree comes in an 1 gallon size pot.
3-4 ft tree comes in an 5 gallon size pot.
Why You'll Love It
Why You'll Love It
Useful in the Kitchen: The masses of large fruit produced on these plants are perfect for eating fresh, canning, bottling, and making jams and jellies.
Container Plants: Blackberries make excellent container plants.
Easy to grow: Rewarding and easy to grow.
Climate: Grows best in USDA zones 6-9.
Thornless Blackberry Bush
View More Planting Info
Provide full sun and well-draining soil for your blackberry plant. While they can tolerate partial shade, your fruit yields will be much smaller. They prefer slightly acidic to slightly basic soils at a pH level of 5.8-6.8. Prime-Ark Freedom performs best in USDA hardiness zones 6-8 but can be grown in zone 9 with afternoon shade and supplemental watering. Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the root ball of the plants. For planting in rows, space the plants 3-4 feet apart. Plant at least 10 feet away from raspberries. Add compost to the soil. Backfill this first into the hole, place the plant, and continue planting, pressing the soil down to prevent air pockets. Water well and add a layer of organic mulch around the base (not near the canes) to help conserve water and suppress weeds. At the planting stage, add a support system.
Pruning:
Prune to remove dead or damaged canes, to thin out the canes to provide good airflow, or to remove any unwanted suckers that are trying to spread.
Growth:
This blackberry grows 4-5 feet tall and up to 4-5 feet wide and is often supported by a fence or trained along a post and wire system. They are usually planted in rows, but single plants need a support.
Harvesting:
For the best blackberry flavor, harvest in the morning before the hot sun is at its peak.
- Product Info
- Care and Maintenance
- Planting Care
- Growing Zone
Product Info
Mature Height: 4-5 ft.
Mature Width: 4-5 ft.
Sunlight: Full Sun
Growth Rate: Moderate
Does Not Ship To: AZ, OR
Care and Maintenance
Watering: Blackberries benefit from low and slow deep watering, such as drip irrigation systems. Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged. They love access to lots of water but don't like "wet feet"!
Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced slow release fertilizer in spring as the growing season begins. Band the fertilizer out in a ring 12 inches from the base of the plant. The addition of compost will further enhance the soil for better growth. Fertilize again in midsummer and fall.
Pruning: Prime-Ark Freedom fruits on both new and older wood. Inspect your canes in late winter or early spring; any that do not have new buds can be removed. Trim main canes to 3-4 feet tall and remove spindly or weak canes. Canes 3 or more years old can be removed in favor of newer wood to prevent crowding. After fruiting subsides, prune back the canes to 3-4 feet again for overwintering.
Pests and Diseases: The most common pests for blackberries are spider mites and birds. Use bird netting to protect the fruit from wildlife! Prime-Ark Freedom is also subject to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew or various rusts/cane blights, but these can be prevented by ensuring good airflow and watering at the base of the canes.
Pollination: This is a self-fertile variety but benefits greatly from having multiple plants near each other for higher fruit yields.
Harvesting: When the fruit has turned black or extremely dark red, it's ripe. Gently grasp the berry and give it a light twist; it should easily come free from the cane. If it resists, it's not quite ready. Don't overfill containers, as the fruit is very sensitive and easily bruised or squashed. Don't wash the berries until ready to eat or process them.
Recovery Time: Transitioning from our nursery to your home can be a bit of a shock to your plant. A short acclimation period helps it recover and reduces stress.
Climate Adjustment: Every environment is unique. Giving your plant time to adjust to the local climate, humidity, and light conditions in a shady spot will set it up for better growth and health.
How to Acclimate Your Plant: Keep the plant in its container and place it in a shady, sheltered area away from high winds. Ensure it's watered adequately – the soil should be moist but not waterlogged. Monitor the plant for any signs of distress and allow it to adjust for a few days before planting. After a few days of acclimation, your plant will be better prepared to thrive in its new home for years to come.
Planting Care
Pruning: Prune to remove dead or damaged canes, to thin out the canes to provide good airflow, or to remove any unwanted suckers that are trying to spread.
Harvesting: For the best blackberry flavor, harvest in the morning before the hot sun is at its peak.
Growth: This blackberry grows 4-5 feet tall and up to 4-5 feet wide and is often supported by a fence or trained along a post and wire system. They are usually planted in rows, but single plants need a support.
Growing Zone
Growing Zone 6-9
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