Let’s grow blackberries at home – an easy cultivation for pot and garden

Blackberries, which belong to the raspberry family, are berries that can be grown even in relatively warm regions. It grows well even if it is left alone with vigorous vitality, and once planted, you can enjoy early summer flowering and summer harvest every year, and it is a fruit tree recommended for gardening beginners. In this article, we will introduce a wide range of blackberry characteristics, how to grow them, how to harvest and store them.

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What is blackberry?

Blackberry is a fruit tree of the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae, and its origin is North America. Blackberries are a family of raspberries, and others include raspberries and dewberries. Rubuses generally prefer a cool climate, but blackberries can survive summer even in relatively warm regions. In addition, blackberries are vine or semi-vine, and are characterized by the fact that they grow in a standing shape with several branches rising from the ground, and the vine grows. The height of the tree is about 1.5 to 3 m, so it is a good idea to use materials such as fences and obelisks to attract and tailor the branches. Due to its deciduous nature, it drops leaves and overwinters in winter.

Blackberry features

Blackberries have thorns and some varieties have no thorns. In recent years, varieties without thorns have become mainstream, and it seems that they are relatively easy to manage. Blackberries grow vigorously, so if you have a large garden, you can plant them freely, but if space is limited or on the balcony, container cultivation is suitable. It is a representative plant of domestic fruit trees that can be easily started. The flowering period is from late April to June, and many small single-flowered flowers that resemble wild roses bloom, so you can enjoy the flowers in addition to harvesting. The flower color is pale pink and white. From late June to mid-August, berries with a size of about 2 to 3 cm are cultivated. The fruits change color from green to red to black, which is a sign of ripeness. Depending on the variety, some fruits have a strong acidity and some do not, and each has a different flavor.

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How to grow blackberries

Blackberry is a fruit tree that even beginners can grow without failure, and if it is firmly rooted after planting, it will bloom in early summer every year and you can enjoy the summer harvest. Here, we will introduce in detail the points of planting, daily management such as watering, fertilizer, pest control, and pruning points.

Cultivation environment

They prefer a sunny and well-ventilated place. It can withstand half-shade, but in that case, flowering and fruiting will be worse. Blackberry is one of the fruit trees that can be easily grown because it does not require pollinated trees and bears fruit by itself, so if you plant one, it will bear fruit.

Planting

The best time to plant blackberries is during the dormant period from November to early March.

Garden planting

Dig a hole about 50 cm in diameter and depth 2-3 weeks before planting. Mix humus, compost, slow-release fertilizer, etc. well with the excavated soil and return it to the planting hole again. For clay, sand, and poorly drained soil, it is advisable to add more humus and compost. By waiting for a while after mixing fertilizer etc. in the soil, decomposition progresses, the soil matures, and rooting after planting improves. In the place where the soil was made, dig a hole one size larger than the root pot of the seedling and plant it. Finally, give plenty of water.

Potted plant

It is easy to use potting soil blended for fruit trees. When cultivating in pots, prepare No. 8 to 10 pots. Place a pot bottom net in the bottom hole of the prepared pot, add 1 to 2 steps of pumice stone, and then add about half of the potting soil for trees. Remove the seedlings from the pot and temporarily place them in the pot to determine the height. To prevent the water from overflowing immediately when watering, it is advisable to set the amount of soil to a height of about 2 to 3 cm below the pot edge and take a water space. Add the potting soil while poking it with a split so that the soil spreads well into the pot. Finally, give enough water until the water runs out from the bottom of the pot.

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Watering

After planting, water it when it is dry until it takes root and the foliage grows steadily. After rooting, water comes up from below in the case of land planting, so it is almost unnecessary. However, if the sunny weather continues in midsummer and the dryness continues, water it to make up for it. In midsummer, if you water in the daytime, the temperature of the water will rise and it will soon become hot water, so it is important to give it during the cool hours of the morning or evening.

For potted plans don’t forget to manage watering on a daily basis. When the soil surface is dry, give plenty of water until the water runs out from the bottom of the pot. If the foliage is slightly lowered, it is a sign that you want water. The point of not dying is to catch the message properly from the plant without missing it. Especially in midsummer, it becomes easy to dry due to high temperature, so be careful not to miss watering twice in the morning and evening. In midsummer, if you water in the daytime when the temperature is high, the water will soon become lukewarm and the stock will weaken, so it is important to do it in the cool hours of morning and evening. It is recommended to give it sparingly as it will be dormant in winter and the topsoil will not dry easily. Give it during the day when the temperature is high enough.

Fertilizer

In February, June, and September, when both garden and potted plants have finished flowering, slow-release chemical fertilizers are given and blended well with the soil.

Fertilization in February is intended to be given before waking up from dormancy and starting to grow as a source of energy to sprout sprouts. The fertilizer application in June is for enriching the fruits, so it is recommended to use the ones that are mixed to enrich the fruits such as phosphoric acid. Fertilization in September is given to the strains that have grown a lot of fruits and have consumed energy to regain their strength.

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Pest

Weevils, scarab beetles, and scale insects may be attached. The rose weevil is a small black insect (2 to 3 mm in length) that mainly attaches to sprouts, new leaves, and buds. If you eat the buds, they will not bloom and the amount of fruits will decrease, so be careful. The rose weevil is named because it has a long mouth like a straw. With a long mouth like an elephant, make a hole in a sprout or bud and suck the extract from there. Moisture does not spread beyond the part with the hole, and it withers. If you’re growing for the purpose of harvesting blackberries, you don’t want to use too much chemicals. It’s a good idea to patrol frequently and kill as soon as you find it. The scarab beetle is a beetle of about 2 cm. Adults feed on the leaves, so kill them as soon as you find them. Also, be aware that the larvae that hide in the ground are troublesome, and especially in the case of pot cultivation, they may die as a result of their roots being devoured. If there is no problem in the above-ground part, but the leaves gradually turn yellow and gradually drop and the number of leaves decreases, there is a possibility that larvae are lurking in the ground. If the roots are devoured, it can be easily removed by holding the root and pulling it up. In that case, wash the roots thoroughly, prepare new pots and soil, replant and cure. In addition, scale insects may attach to the trunk and branches. Scale insects are insects that appear to cover shell-like shells, sucking on branches and trunks, and gradually weakening the tree. It looks unpleasant and the scenery gets worse, so get rid of it as soon as you find it. Since the effect of the drug cannot be expected so much, it is recommended to scrape it off with a toothbrush.

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Harvest

The blackberry harvest season is from late June to mid-August. If you pick it before it is fully ripe, it will be very sour, so be sure to harvest the ripe fruit. The red fruits are not yet fully ripe, so use the blackened fruits as a guide. It is a ripe sign when you can easily take it by touching the black fruit. If the fruit does not come off when you touch it and it is firmly attached to the stem, do not harvest it. On the contrary, if it is late, the fruit will fall to the ground, so harvest without missing the timing.

The best time to plant, replant, and transplant is from November to March. Replant potted plants and container plants once every two to three years to prevent root clogging. As the roots get clogged, the fruiting becomes worse.

Blackberries can be eaten raw. It’s also delicious with yogurt and pudding! If you divide it with cider together with raspberries and other fruits such as raspberries and dewberries and make it like a fruit punch, the colors will be beautiful and it will look good.

It has a good flavor, so it will be even more delicious if you use it for jams and sweets. If you want to use a lot, store it in the freezer each time you harvest it and store it until you reach the required amount. Since the harvest overlaps with the rainy season, it may not bear fruit and fall to the ground during long rains. If you are looking to make processed foods such as jams and sweets instead of raw foods, you can pick them early even if they are not fully ripe if the rain continues. Here, we will show you how to make summer pudding and blackberry fool.