#1 Basics of Blackberry Production, Amanda McWhirt. Arkansas Blackberry School

Winter Session, Talk #1 of 13.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service hosted a Blackberry School in 2017 that was sponsored by the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium (SRSFC). There are four main classes, one for each season of the year, each class is made up of three to four short talks.
For more information visit: www.uaex.edu/blackberryschool

[@gernblenstein1541]

I love that I can find this level of information on you tube. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@ARfruitveg]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CarneAsadaFries_]

This is invaluable information for even a home gardener like myself. Thank you

[@jugears1081]

Amanda, thank you. I have looked at dozens of videos on this subject and yours is the only one worth viewing and saving. Again, thanks.

[@ben-fe3zy]

Really nice presentation - to the point and covering lots of information. Thanks!

[@rodidlewild2330]

Amanda thank you so very much for your wonderful presentation. I too am just a home beginning gardener but was completely confused over how to care for Blackberries. I watched countless videos but just became more confused. I planted Triple Crown Thornless Blackberries and was searching for how to care for them. I just didn't know the basics. Thanks to your wonderful presentation I now understand. Many thanks! A++ Rod in Southern Oregon

[@emilythechef]

Holy cow, five leaves versus three leaves, never even knew that’s a thing, but I just went out to check my blackberries and son of a gun!!

[@elizabethvaughn9925]

Very clearly explained. I found that this video answered a lot of my questions. Thank you.

[@mirrissapurnell2081]

This was amazing! Even though I am only growing for home use, the information was so valuable! Thank you for sharing!

[@mirrissapurnell2081]

Amanda McWhirt I will be watching the whole series.... I'm having difficulty finding the Natchez variety here on the MS Gulf Coast. But I'll find it! I appreciate your thorough videos!

[@pjd2709]

@@mirrissapurnell2081 try this www.noursefarms.com/category/blackberry-plants/ Hope it helps.

[@VeganDoris]

Thank you so much! I just watched a blackberry video that said black berries spread through branches touching the ground and growing new roots, but I know that my plants have been sending out roots with new canes sprouting up from those roots!

[@ln1273]

I’ve seen them root from branches touching the ground and growing a new plant. This summer I was actually able to propagate new plants from my old vines doing just that. I took a branch, put the end of it in potting soil, watered it with a rooting compound and a couple months later I snipped the branch off and planted the newly developed roots at the end of the cane into the ground. It was very exciting for me, as the vines were at a house I used to own and I really wanted some of that particular variety. Perhaps it’s different for different varieties.

[@mossman7527]

Great video! Wish I had seen this a year ago

[@davemartin1534]

Lots. Of information. Thanks very much. Planning on a home supply. Looks like its not going to be a first year gradations. Sad to say but then if I delay planting it will be 2 years.

[@josephevans5703]

You rock Amanda thank you very much

[@robertcusanelli2562]

I recently discovered a well established wild blackberry patch on my land. Is it worth my time and effort to use these plants for small scale production or would I be better off starting from scratch? Thanks for the video, it was very informative and I look forward to watching the others.

[@ARfruitveg]

I would invest in buying released cultivars and tissue culture plants. The newer cultivars have greatly improved flavor over their wild cousins and most of them are thornless, which makes them easier to manage in the home garden. With tissue culture plants you will get greatly improved plant vigor and plant health.

[@AMANKHAN-fl7bv]

Mam I'm your biggest fan now i love your video ❤ 😍

[@allanpennington]

Ddi you have a link to the Winter Pruning vid please?

[@ttb1513]

With the rotating cross arm trellis, have you seen that blackberries can be grown in zone 5, and if so, what varieties are most cold hardy? Thank you!

[@ARfruitveg]

Yes it is possible to grow blackberries in zone 5 with the rotating trellis. This past winter/spring we had negative temps in Arkansas and were able to evaluate some aspects of winter cold hardiness here. Ouachita, and Ponca looked good at most locations. Natchez also did well on the RCA when covered. Have also heard good things about Triple crown in more northern locations. I would recommend planting several cultivars to determine what works well for your location and market.

[@le1630]

thank you for wonderful information i wanted to know if there is a reference book or article for me to read or download

[@ARfruitveg]

The Southeastern Caneberry Production Guide is a great, free resource: content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeast-regional-caneberry-production-guide

[@spectra7gaming471]

What I was wondering specifically was are people claiming ownership over any kind of variety over here?

[@pollyester6639]

Does any one know when the Prime ARK blackberry will be available in the UK. I saving a spot on my allotment. I cannot seem to get any info anywhere. I live in Yorkshire uk so get long cold winters plenty of frost. Would this climate be compatible with the Prime ARK

[@zachwak]

shout out to Gina Fernandez, she is over ay NCSU and i see you've used a lot of her images and sources! she is a wonderful resource

[@susanduncan4924]

I got 3 thornless blackberry plants a couple years ago and the guy told me I needed to just watch for "Trailers?" and get rid of them because hey rob the nutrition from the plant. I have 3 new stalks that are thick with no berries -different leaves and I almost cut them down but after watching some of this, I now think they are the Primocane which is next years new fruiting plant! Does anyone know what this Trailer is that he told me was bad?

[@ARfruitveg]

Hi Susan, the three new stalks do sound like primocanes. I am not sure what he may have meant by trailers, unless he was concerned about canes touching the ground and rooting in. This can create a planting that is difficult to manage. A simple trellis with some stakes can keep the canes and fruit off the ground to prevent this.

[@grey.exe-stopped-respondin2725]

Hey hey!! I just wanted to say hiii! It’s Ash btw -_-

[@harrybelonio7996]

What is typical chilling hour requirements?

[@ARfruitveg]

Chilling hours vary by variety, but range form 200-800 in general. Check out our video on blackberry variety selection for more information.

[@harrybelonio7996]

@@ARfruitveg Many thanks

[@MBihon2000]

Can A blackberry bushes grow in a tropical country?

[@ARfruitveg]

Yes. Blackberries require chilling, or cold temperatures, to make them flower and fruit in the spring. However varieties with low chilling requirement or other cultural practices make it possible to grow them in tropical countries.

[@charliemagoo7943]

Can a gardener propagate Arkansas patented blackberries and pay royalty for the number of plants propagated

[@ARfruitveg]

To propagate plants for sale requires a license from the University and the payment of royalties. The TCO office can help with questions related to propagation rules: aaes.uada.edu/technology-commercialization/

[@user-xc6eq6pq9i]

Когда живешь в России - пригибание и укрытие спасают почти все сорта и есть урожай:)

[@mykimikimiky]

no pause :D

[@bradleybarber4818]

Lip-smacking good video🙂