Blackberry Growing Guide
Blackberry At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Berry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -23°C
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant bare-root canes in early spring, 120 cm apart, with a sturdy trellis. Tie in the new canes and remove the ones that fruited.
Like raspberries, grown from canes and fruiting on second-year wood (cut out canes after they fruit). They're vigorous and can become invasive, so choose a thornless, well-behaved variety and keep them tied to a trellis and in bounds.
When To Start
Blackberry needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Blackberry?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Blackberry Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Blackberry Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant blackberry canes (early spring)
3 weeks before your last frost
Cut out fruited blackberry canes; tie in new ones
Around your first frost· every year
Check for ripe blackberries
120 days after your last frost· every year
The Journey Ahead
Blackberry's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give blackberries sun, a strong trellis, and room.
- 2Train new canes along the wires and cut out the old fruited canes each year.
- 3Keep them contained.
- 4They sucker and tip-root readily and can run wild.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
180 cm
Mature Height
150 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Pick when berries are dull-black and come away easily, mid-late summer
How to Harvest
- 1Pick when the berries are fully black, slightly soft and lift off easily: shiny berries aren't ripe yet.
- 2They ripen over weeks, so pick often, and handle gently as they crush.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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