Taking care of your plants

Overview

A vigorous cane fruit producing a heavy crop of juicy berries in late summer. Train canes along wires and prune after fruiting for tidy, productive plants. Blackberries are perfect for crumbles, pies, jams and smoothies.

• Vegetable Type: Blackberry
• Key Characteristic: Juicy late-summer berries ideal for pies and preserves.
• Hardiness: Fully hardy (suitable for most UK gardens).

PLANTING ADVICE

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Best grown in the ground with support where required.

• Outdoor cultivation

Suitable for outdoor cultivation in full sun or light shade depending on variety.

• Greenhouse cultivation

Can be grown under cover for earlier crops, though typically grown outdoors.

CARE & HARVEST

Keep soil moist and weed free.

• Watering: Water well during flowering and fruiting. Container-grown plants will need more frequent watering in warm weather.
• Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring before new growth starts.
• Cutting and prunning: Prune out old canes after fruiting and tie in new shoots for next season’s crop.
• Harvesting: Harvest when fruits are fully coloured and come away easily with a gentle pull. Harvest little and often for best flavour.
• Pest and diseases: Monitor regularly for pests and remove affected growth promptly. Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Prune after fruiting or in winter depending on the variety. Protect ripening fruit from birds with netting.

VERVE RECOMMENDS

• Tie in new canes separately from fruiting canes to simplify pruning.