Grow The Most Incredible BLACKBERRIES In 5 Easy Steps!

In this video, I share how to grow the most incredible blackberries in 5 easy steps! Growing blackberries is something every gardener should try: they're cold hardy, heat tolerant, fast growing and fit almost anywhere. However, there are things you should know before you begin to grow blackberry plants. This complete guide to growing blackberries teaches you everything you need to know to grow the best blackberry plants!
I use the following products* to grow blackberries in my garden:
Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry Plants: amzn.to/3JYG0tX
Espoma Plant Tone Fertilizer (4lb): amzn.to/3WKx9Ue
Espoma Plant Tone Fertilizer (18lb): amzn.to/3WENN7U
Espoma Plant Tone (36lbs): amzn.to/3wlsAoY
Insect Netting (Many Sizes): amzn.to/3TYm134
Pruning Shears: amzn.to/4bwWXrg
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Intro To Growing Blackberry Plants
1:10 Step #1: Blackberry Type Selection
3:27 Blackberry Primocanes VS Floricanes
6:44 My Favorite Blackberry Variety
11:04 Blackberry Taste Test
11:35 Step #2: Selecting A Planting Location
14:11 Step #3: Fertilizing Blackberries
15:52 Step #4: Removing Weeds
17:05 Step #5: Compost And Mulch
20:35 Summer Pruning Blackberries
23:21 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to grow blackberries, want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and "how to" garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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EQUIPMENT I MOST OFTEN USE IN MY GARDEN*:
Miracle-Gro Soluble All Purpose Plant Food amzn.to/3qNPkXk
Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food amzn.to/2GKYG0j
Miracle-Gro Soluble Tomato Plant Food amzn.to/2GDgJ8n
Jack's Fertilizer, 20-20-20, 25 lb. amzn.to/3CW6xCK
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide amzn.to/2HTCKRd
Southern Ag Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate amzn.to/2UHSNGE
Monterey Organic Spinosad Concentrate amzn.to/3qOU8f5
Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer (BT Concentrate) amzn.to/2SMXL8D
Cordless ULV Fogger Machine amzn.to/36e96Sl
Weed Barrier with UV Resistance amzn.to/3yp3MaJ
Organza Bags (Fig-size) amzn.to/3AyaMUz
Organza Bags (Tomato-size) amzn.to/36fy4Re
Injection Molded Nursery Pots amzn.to/3AucVAB
Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips amzn.to/3wiBjlB
Nylon Mason Line, 500FT amzn.to/3wd9cEo
Expandable Vinyl Garden Tape amzn.to/3jL7JCI
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ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8B
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© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #blackberries #fruittrees

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please “Like” and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 Intro To Growing Blackberry Plants 1:10 Step #1: Blackberry Type Selection 3:27 Blackberry Primocanes VS Floricanes 6:44 My Favorite Blackberry Variety 11:04 Blackberry Taste Test 11:35 Step #2: Selecting A Planting Location 14:11 Step #3: Fertilizing Blackberries 15:52 Step #4: Removing Weeds 17:05 Step #5: Compost And Mulch 20:35 Summer Pruning Blackberries 23:21 Adventures With Dale

[@JstcountryGirl]

Ok beginner here.. I know you have a lot of experience with shade cloths so my question is; if I have a 40% that is way too big for the spot I need to put it over if I fold it in 1/2 will it then become an 80% or does it still act like a 40%? Might be a dumb question but I have zero experience with them. TIA! ❤️

[@l0I0I0I0]

Blackberties R my favorite❤! I want the best tasting first and I'll whatever it takes within reason.

[@katherinedrew6159]

Wish I could double like your videos. Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@JstcountryGirl that is going to depend how the holes line up. Technically, if the holes in the mesh lined up perfectly, there would be no difference. But, if the holes overlapped perfectly, you'd wind up in almost total shade. In reality, it's going to move in the breeze and give you some random amount of % at all times, so the dappled light is going to be constantly shifting. Honestly, if you're concerned about having too much shade, the best thing to do is just buy another smaller shade cloth that fits in the appropriate spot. The smaller shade cloth is usually really inexpensive, and since they'll last for countless seasons, it never hurts to have them on-hand.

[@JstcountryGirl]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, buy the right size, 😁. I thought about trying to cut it to size & just add grommets but I’m scared that it will fray once I cut it.

[@DavidWilmering]

Greatest blackberry video on KZbin. One of the best Gardening channels on KZbin. Thanks man.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@ajmoore43]

I planted some prime ark freedoms last year. I had a fire get out of control in my yard and burn them up and then the bulldozer came to push a fire line around the woods and ran over them. This year I was walking around my yard and notice both the ones I planted came back up

[@lispottable]

You are really one of the best garden teachers I’ve heard!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate it.

[@traceyelliott2902]

This is just in time! Literally told my mom today that I was tired of paying for blackberries, I needed to grow some!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! They're very fun to grow, and they're very rewarding.

[@AndreaMoscoso-ny8oq]

Get really good seeds soon because non tampered seeds that can keep giving you good healthy seeds will be harder to come by.

[@AndreaMoscoso-ny8oq]

Get really good seeds soon because non tampered seeds that can keep giving you good healthy seeds will be harder to come by.

[@657449]

Anything growing in my garden is great. Be grateful of your harvest.

[@wellersonoliveira5334]

Top quality content, inspirational, very calming. The GOAT of gardening channels 💪

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@toriwolf5978]

My neighbor just gave me a bunch of plants for free Thorny ones …. the ones she gave me I planted two years ago they are loaded with berries this year , now I have the new plants she just gave me lol hers are wild ones she found growing on her cherry farm …..the flavor is awesome …….i don’t find the thornless ones that flavorful compared to the thorny wild ones , just my opinion …..❤❤

[@DanLakey1963]

Just wanted to make a small correction. ON your Prime ARk Freedom blackberries, the berries you are picking here in May are actually coming off of last years growth so it is actually floricane berries. The Primocane berries won't deliver until much later in the summer. That was the tall new growth you mentioned. Two crops per season is the incredible thing about Prime ARk Freedom. Never cut your primocanes after the first year you will miss out on early crop next year.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I’m aware. The primocanes fruiting now are from last season. But, you don’t need to maintain them if you don’t want. Overwintering them will give you an earlier harvest, but even if you cut them back to nothing and mowed the whole bushes down, you’d still get fruit the next year. That’s my point. You can’t do that with floricane producers, and they tend to be later.

[@afrocraft1]

Very important point. Thanks!

[@WompWompWoooomp]

Me who just bought some blackberry bushes: 👀

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

Haha same just got some yesterday

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad to be timely 🙂

[@ChavsADV]

Same haha.

[@Barackrifle]

I bought and planted mine last week. It just died. What did I do wrong :(

[@ChavsADV]

@@Barackriflehave you had experience making other plantings? Did you use soil that was known to be free of pesticides and herbicides?

[@elyserhyne243]

I grow apache, aparaho, navajo, and thripple crown thornless varieties. All are delicious and they behave a little differently and flower a little offset so I have a longer harvest season. Only remove a cane after its obviously died. I have 2 of each of those kinds and I'm on year 4 of harvest (year 5 of planting). I got GALLONS last year. I'm seeing twice the amount of flowers this year. My original plan was to grow these 4 to pick my favorite, but now I've decided to keep multiples of all of them.

[@traceyyerxa7683]

I use to live in Washington State where there is lots of blackberries. Now living in South Carolina. Still growing great blackberries. I now use shade cloth starting in early June.

[@mcgritty8842]

You and James Prigioni are getting me addicted to gardening. I meep seeing the plants at local nurseries and been fighting the temptation (blueberries too)… and it’s only been a few weeks 😅

[@timefortinybirdandfriends6565]

Thorned to help protect birds from predators.

[@shauncampbell969]

Believe everything he says. My family was from Wilson,N.C circa 1920 All the best Shaun of NYC

[@stacybarker4749]

Hi MG! I bought some prime ark freedom blackberry plants from your Amazon link this spring. When I received them I was worried because they were tiny twigs with one or two microscopic leaves. I thought no way these are gonna survive. Three to four months later they are over six feet tall! I’m so impressed. Thank you so much for the recommendation ❤

[@kmoecub]

I appreciate your advice. I will say that as a boy (long ago a man) who grew up in the PNW as the grandson of berry farmers, that every thorned variety produces berries of a superior flavor to every thornless. I very much miss picking from the ever-abundant thorned bushes that were spread by birds. Never will there be a more flaverfull jam or pie from any thornless variety. The larger the berry, the weaker the flavor per pound. A superior blackberry requires no addition of acid (lemon or otherwise) for any recipe.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I honestly find it hard to believe that *every* thorned variety is better than every single thornless variety, but nevertheless, I've heard people make that claim, so I added that notion to the video. I have not tried enough varieties of blackberries to know, but I can tell you the blackberries I'm growing are much better than what you get in the store, and they're easy to grow. I've only had a handful of varieties, so I don't know blackberry flavors as well as I know something like figs, tomatoes, citrus, etc. where I've had dozens to hundreds of varieties.

[@se5594]

If i had unlimited space and time to prune, I'd try a thorned variety.

[@laurab8547]

I have 5 Prime Ark Freedom bushes that are now three years old. This is the first year I have gotten a substantial harvest and have gotten about two and half gallons of berries so far! I am thrilled with them!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They’re absolutely prolific producers of huge berries. It’s awesome to have this much fruit this early in spring.

[@danielleterry2331]

Feed them in feb 20-20-20 prune them back and you will get a huge harvest

[@elyserhyne243]

As someone that finished year 4, prepare for twice the berries this year

[@elyserhyne243]

@@danielleterry2331 yes, once I started fertilizing in Feb, the harvest was absolutely insane

[@tracysutton5887]

Can you grow the Prime Ark Freedom in large containers or do they need to go into the soil?

[@nebsun]

I have a lot of blackberry varieties, all thornless (or spineless) - I use the short spreading varieties as a ground cover and the rambling types in the low-mid level below larger trees, they thrive in the clay soil and do well in shade as well.

[@jeffsherwood9151]

Thanks for the info have good day

[@cadekeeton7157]

Had a buddy today talking about getting some. Definitely sent this his way lol

[@PepperplacewithShawna]

Thank you!

[@BackyardGardenFlo]

Thanks for sharing I learn how to take care of my Blackberrys ❤

[@danielmcdermott3558]

Thanks for the informative video. It’s alway nice seeing someone enthusiastically and passionately share knowledge about what they love. Thanks again.

[@adventuregrammy9979]

Thank you, I just ordered my first Prime-Ark Freedom plants! I’m so excited. Love your videos. ❤

[@WillWilsonII]

I grew up in the Seattle area, where black berries grow on the side of the road and in vacant lots. When I moved to California (and now NC) I laugh whenever I see them at the store

[@nolagirlhomestead]

😐 very jelly 🫤 visited sister in Tacoma. Wild blackberries and apples, apples, apples 🍎🍎🍏 EVERYWHERE 😮😢

[@GrowingWhatIEat]

Great information thanks for sharing!!!

[@DiannasHomestead]

You have the best videos ❤

[@curtisashley8825]

Well done!!

[@MattyDemello]

I noticed my raspberries love the shade and im in Massachusetts which isn't all that hot. I find raspberries under my porch with almost no sun. Raspberries are an amazing plant. Grows just about anywhere. Birds ate mine one year and now as i walk my dog im finding raspberry plants growing in the cracks of the sidewalks way down my street. I was stunned.

[@cherylb.9766]

Good job on this vidio! Very informative and useful information. Thanks

[@trevorhaeberle4688]

Bro, u rock! 🙌🙌🥶

[@andralandi1108]

Great video! You explained everything really clearly and it feels like the info finally “clicked” for me.

[@Reject06]

I swear, you have great timing with my current interests! I just picked up some more berries today and going to try your methods for these new ones.

[@vickiwestlund1837]

As always- great information !!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joshboozer3065]

Apache variety blackberries are criminally underrated. I have one plant that has taken over a 14x6 bed in 3 season. Canes as tall as 12ft and the bush is covered in roughly 500 very large berries. Growing in zone 7b east TN

[@mickichikwinya5519]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@jenniferruth812]

I just bought 1 for the 1st time & need advice so this is great. Woot!

[@shirleysuchdolski6042]

Thanks so much for all the info. My fav channel!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I appreciate it!

[@joshualloyd4275]

Making me miss living in the Columbia River gorge near Portland. We had an unlimited, wild supply of marionberries growing everywhere.

[@lauras5312]

thanks for sharing 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@nolagirlhomestead]

I respect choice of Prime Ark Freedom, however I suggest having Prime Ark Traveler 😉 in your collection, if you have room. Spreads 8' or better by traveling roots. Good flavor and same large berries, if not larger. Fruits later than Freedom, extends season and harvest

[@user-fy7cp9yw7y]

Bought couple Prime Ark Freedom about 2 months ago. They are growing fast. I will be excited to see the blackberries appear. Thanks for the video. Enjoyed learning how to manage the dominating canes.

[@MelissaWilliams74802]

Thank you. I got mine by mistake were labeled as blueberries last year. 😂 learning a lot. There are lots of flowers this year after I cut them down last year. So excited !!

[@maryjenkins6848]

Thank you. This is very helpful

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@DingbadYoutube]

Good information. Thanks.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@jfbaker5351]

I planted one single blackberry plant a few years ago. Since then it has spread all over my one acre lot. And it’s thorny AF, it pretty much tears through my skin when I walk through it. I hate blackberries now.

[@FC2ESWS]

I think you read my mind. I was just looking for some blackberries to grow!

[@SurLaMer_]

Perfect timing, I recently bought small ark freedom, now I know what to do with it

[@TerribleTim68]

Here in the PNW the Himalayan blackberry grows faster than weeds. I spend half my time chopping it back from the empty lot next to my garden. So when I want to harvest some, it's easy. 🤣

[@chrissy4782]

🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻🪻 When I leave South Jersey in a few years to join you in Wilmington, the first thing I’m going to “pack” is my blackberry plants!

[@secretjourney4815]

On a whim, I dug up about 10 of mine in frozen upstate NY. Drove them down to my new digs in Swansboro NC. They are growing fine!!!

[@patrickmundy1966]

There's nothing like NJ in your rearview mirror. I know! Good luck!

[@alanz90]

I just have to say right off the bat, that 'what's growing on' was a fantastic start 😄

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

I planted two different varieties in my garden this spring so this dropped just at the right time. Can’t wait to watch my kids pluck their own food while playing out in the backyard

[@yellowdog762jb]

Great tips! I've grown blackberries for about 25 years near the Texas Gulf Coast. IMO, the thorned varieties used to have superior fruit. I don't believe that is still the case though. A few things that I learned over the years, the more branches that your plant has, the more fruit you'll get. Tipping the long canes makes them branch and fruit more. Three to four foot long canes are long enough. Thornless plants are much easier to net than thorned ones. A perfectly black, shiny berry, while beautiful, is not ripe. For best flavor, wait and pick your berries once they become dull. Where disease pressure is high, you might not want to mulch the cuttings in place. If you DO mulch on top of your cuttings, you may have some cuttings root, which can be good or bad. P.S. My Apache and Arapaho plants have been producing berries for about a week on the border of 8b/9a.

[@jackiehorsley9263]

sounds awesome I am growing blackberries myself mine are grown in containers

[@furiahispanica3823]

Growing lots of Arkansas varieties, Arapaho, Ouachita, Caddo, Ponca, Osage, Prime Ark Freedom, Prime Ark 45,Natchez. Then I got my Triple Crown, Von, Chester, Sweetie Pie, all in the same area. My little boys will go outside and devour all the Blackberries, Raspberries and Blueberries from the plants, gotta keep growing my food forest.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

WOW! Someone loves blackberries 🙂 That's a great collection!

[@VorteC81oo]

Which ones would you say are the best tasting?

[@monicamayer977]

Good video

[@miltonwelch8619]

Thanks for the great tips. I bought 2 blackberry plants last year, knowing nothing about them, and I'm getting some fruit now. They're not as big or as many as yours, but the few that ripened were quite tasty. I'll be using these notes going forward.

[@purpleunicorn164]

Thank you for the link. My son has been asking for a blackberry plant and i wasnt sure but you changed my mind.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They're fun to grow, and they're very rewarding! You'll be harvesting them early, way before any other fruit trees and vegetables.

[@rdabba200]

I’m shocked you didn’t mention that blackberries will spread and take over their roots will go beyond the growing area, I have blackberry shoots coming up in the middle of my yard! Almost as bad as mint lol

[@nolagirlhomestead]

Check your variety...it may travel by underground roots.

[@danielleterry2331]

Me to! Lol I dig up the small new groups and move them to make a protective area around husbands garage windows so incase anyone thinks of breaking in while I am at work lol

[@elyserhyne243]

I grow mine next to the yard like he does. If you're growing a thornless type then you just mow it or yank them when they come up.

[@KimH-ic6ne]

Amen! I bought the erect primacane type but has spread EVERYWHERE! 😩

[@SandcastleDreams]

Some of those are probably bird dropping plantings, lol! We have wild florida blackberries and we also have a lot of birds. We never know where they will come up but we do know that we will get a lot of fruit if lawnmower man (hubby) doesn't run them over! 😊 I got 4 quarts this year! They are even growing in my bamboo!

[@patkrueger7353]

Great information for those. I'm growing blueberries and strawberries for the first time. Wow that really looks super comfy and cooling and relaxing for Dale. I think I would lay there. Lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I figure if my plants like the oscillating fan, why not Dale? 😅

[@CraftEccentricity]

I grow KIOWA, and of course they have thorns, but I let them trail over my fences, and they are almost plum size fruit. Delicious!

[@elyserhyne243]

Oh lord, I throw so much more fertilizer on in February. But thats because I grow strawberries under them. Never had them hinder the blackberries.

[@ashleys637]

Awesome vid as always! The only tidbit I'll need to google is when the best time is to plant blackberries in my area.

[@melanieverheijen1886]

Interesting again. Bought them last year in autumn and now they go green here in Netherlands. In a couple weeks the bark of pine is coming, can't wait✌🏼

[@Mawmaw130]

Great info, my Freedoms are blooming now in Central Kentucky!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Nice!

[@ron952]

Thank you ! I Just planted 5 Chester Blackberries.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Nice!

[@ChornyjKit]

Great video!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@lisamarieb3853]

Great video! Knowing the difference between the Primo and Flori helped me a bunch as I have blackberries on my property and I wasn’t sure how to prune them. Now I do!!! Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@ejsman36]

Bought and planted a thornless primacane for my mom like 30 years ago and it was the most vigorous growing and heavy yielding blackberry plant I have ever seen. Growing up in Northeast NY in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains we used to forage wild blackberries among many other wild edibles. Not sure what variety that thornless was but it was leaps and bounds better than what I foraged in the woods as a kid lol

[@Chris-Rife]

I went with thornless because my toddler likes to pick them. I don't think there is any difference in the taste. I think it goes with the thought process of they don't make'em like they use to when I was a kid :) but working smarter not harder is never a bad thing in my book! I love your setup it's so nice, cheers.

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for the video. It makes the choice simple. Can you grow currants in your area?

[@pamkilgore8004]

My prime ark freedom berries are off to a great start!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! They are *strong* plants. Mine are already starting their second flowering of the season.

[@EzekielsCall]

Thank you for this very thorough video on how to grow Blackberries. I purchased a couple of "patio" blackberries last year, and planted them in ground, because I wasn't sure they would overwinter without doing that. They have done great but I needed more info and didn't want to spend hours hunting down legitimate and detailed info on how to grow blackberries. You have given such a great presentation imo that is simple and to the point, and have taken the "mystery" out of how to grow them successfully. This is exactly what I was looking for. I am definitely subbing.

[@andielliott7721]

And it's blackberry season here in western Arkansas.

[@shanec8812]

Great information. I have 2 Prime Ark plants on the way. I've heard that you can also propagate those top clippings to start new plants if you want more. :)

[@1man2many]

I LOVE the Prime-Ark Freedom, I mail-ordered a few several years ago. I did a container experiment, and put one in a 5 gallon pot, I followed Nourse nursery instructions for growing as a 'tower' by making a cage of 4x4 concrete reinforcing wire around he 5-gallon pot. The instruction was to prune each cane when it grew to 18 inches or so, and let the side branches come out and fruit. This variety is so delicious, and the berries are big! I'm growing in a dry climate on a hill in California zone 9. I can't say enough about this variety.

[@michaelyaary3860]

you prune the primocane tips at 18inches? will the lateral growth then grow vertical as well or will entire height of cane be only 18 inches tall. i may buy prime ark freedom as well trying to figure out ideal pruning of primocanes to still yield good fall harvest

[@jeaniemalone5304]

Okay, gotta get me some of those!!!😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They're awesome! I placed some links to some inexpensive starts in the video description.

[@deecooper1567]

Thank you 😊👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@AlenAbdula]

Navajo preform great for me in MA. Beautiful eye candy white flowers that turn into delicious monster berries. I had a huge harvest last year and ended up breaking new cane that grew over 8ft trying to shape it, it broke at the base. So sadly not going to have huge harvest this year. Hopefully few of the last year wood gives me something. Great video! ETA: I have Navajo planted on the side of my house, not full sun. And it still performs great. Eastern Mass! Regarding nutrients, all I do is add compost spring, and every other week top dress with compost. That's it.

[@BrianF.1969]

I just pulled up some (3) blackberry or raspberry thorned canes out of my flower bed along the house in my front yard :( Google says they're blackberry. They were 2-3' tall and growing. Maybe I should have just topped them but figured I couldn't leave them there. I did get some of the roots to come up with them so I transplanted two of them in soil and put one in a bottle with water to see what they do. I'm guessing a bird ate some of the store bought berry's I threw out and that's how they started there. I tried starting raspberry's this year from some root cuttings but haven't been successful yet. I was successful at growing strawberry's from seed from a store bought berry, maybe I can grow blackberry's the same way :) Great video. I enjoyed watching it.

[@carolyn6290]

Thank You, I just planted three blackberry plants this year with no idea how to care for them. I enjoy your channel very much.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I'm glad I can help.

[@51rwyatt]

I love blackberries. I'm growing them up in Maine, zone 4/5. All the cane fruit, I'm a big fan -- but the blackberries are my special friends.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They’re great. Very easy to grow once you get the basics down, and they’re always reliable.

[@51rwyatt]

@@TheMillennialGardener What about currants? I don't think I've seen you talk about or grow them. Potentially an interesting area to explore.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@51rwyattI haven’t grown them.

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

Started some Prime-Ark Freeodm last spring and had a pound of fruit last year. Now I have tons of berries on my flourocanes and the primocanes are growing like crazy and will have more fruit later in the summer. Such an easy grow in Mid Illinois.

[@freefornow2652]

I lived in Oregon for 10 years and berries grow wild everywhere. I used to to go out to Sauvie Island near Portland and there was a field that a farmer had and he just huge Blackberry brambles as a wind break barrier around his field so we always stopped and picked berries. The farmer didn't cut or cultivate the berries in anyway so it was tough picking. But free !

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

Wonderful video! Thank you so much! I would love to see more content on these, even some shorts about how you prune it throughout the year and at the end of the year. Most pruning videos focus on the fluoricane bearing, which is understandable but unhelpful. I have Prime Ark Freedom and Travelers in a setup directly copied from you. I will update my spring chore list! FYI, I have discovered that blackberries really don't like containers. I had one plant in a 30 gallon grow bag and it was unhappy. I transferred it to the bed and it immediately took off! Seriously, thank you for posting this!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I explain how I summer prune the Prime Ark Freedom's at the end of the video. That is how I do it year-round. I just top them at around 4 feet and keep them shaped as a bush. You can do that with the primocane-fruiting types, because they fruit on that initial growth. Then, you just remove the canes when they're done fruiting. With the trailing and semi-erect types where you have to trellis them, they require a lot more pruning and maintenance. I can't produce a video on those, because I don't grow those types. They require more effort than I'm willing to give. Prime Ark Freedom's are so easy to maintain.

[@davidkoch733]

I have Prime Ark Freedoms and other varieties and I find that the Prime Ark Freedoms are big berries and prolific, but for me, they tend to be on the tart side(zone 9b). I also have Ponca's which are smaller but sweeter. I also planted Triple Crown and Sweetie Pie but will have to wait for next year to compare. Here in zone 9 temps during summer are in the range of 90 degrees to 103 degrees so I tend to put a cover cloth on them to prevent burning. Great Video on explaining everything about blackberries.

[@shake_shells11]

I have all the varieties you mentioned. My favorite is sweetie pie, pure sweet when ripen with a hint of lychee flavor. Ponca is okay, PAF is absolutely sour and I’m about to rip it out😂😂

[@blackbones15]

I have Natchez and ...oh, my goodness I can't think of the other thornless for my zone 9b. Anyway, this is my 3rd year with them and I have berries on the Natchez this year. I'm so excited!!! Now I remember the other Ouachita! yep, that's the one. Lol!

[@hcambo5373]

Good luck my love ❤❤

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@fotoejunkee6247]

I love our Prime Ark Freedom blackberries. They taste delicious and everyone is shocked at how big the berries get.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They're awesome! They make great blackberry ice cream. That's what we've been doing with ours!

[@thebearman324]

I've been picking blackberries on the side of the road for a long time. Even the ones with actual bitter seeds taste better than whatever is typical in the grocery store.

[@MattyDemello]

100% the ones at the store is hard and not sweet at all. Like watered down. It's weird.

[@bobbywilliams2839]

I'm in chicago. If u want blackberries in containers you have to grow Thorned they are more hearty. In ground near the house thornless will work.😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

These Prime Ark Freedom's are pretty vigorous. They grow like a beast, far and away more vigorous and thicker than my other varieties. I'd think these would have a good shot.

[@klmaloney13]

I have the Bushel and Berry Baby Cakes which are thornless in containers. They are good for zone 4-8 and only get 3 to 4 feet tall. I have a small yard currently so only grow small varieties in containers (also have raspberry and blueberries plus veggies). They are full of berries.

[@JM-et1jk]

I have been growing blackberries for a long time, Prime ark freedom and Osage both from Dr Clark out of Arkansas if am not mistaken are in my opinion the best there are and i have grown many many varieties, Great video as usual. Btw you can get two crops out of PAF , depending on how you prune them. Thank you

[@Seraph318]

Thanks for the video! Honestly it's been hard to find good videos on how to grow blackberries. I live in Central FL zone 9b/10a (sort of on the border). I have 3 thornless Arapaho blackberry plants, so they grow on their 2nd year canes. I have them in large grow bags (I rent) and had an issue with them not producing and struggling with some disease, but I started pruning the canes to be about 4-5ft to stimulate more lateral growth, and supposedly the plant can have a hard time supporting really tall canes and fruiting when it doesn't have all the nutrients of being planted in ground. So I pruned them to be about 4-5 feet (way more manageable), they almost immediately shot lateral growth and started fruiting lol. Same with my boysenberries! This is the first time mine are actually growing berries, they had to be cut back to soil level twice due to disease, but one day they just came back stronger, gave them more sun and better conditions, so 2 years later I actually get a few berries lol, almost done ripening!

[@patrickmundy1966]

Great video! My Blackberries here in Calabash are doing great and keep multipyling! Be careful with some composts and manures. Some are contaminated with Grazon and that will kill your garden.

[@gayleridgway8233]

We just got as a present thornless blackberry and was not sure how to take care of them. I’m still unsure as to which variety. Can’t believe this video just popped up just in time. I ordered netting so thanks for hyperlinks.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad I could be timely 🙂

[@susichristianson3395]

That’s funny cuz stuff like that has been happening to me a LOT lately. Whats that saying…”Everything in due time.”🌱

[@tippysdad6937]

Prime ark freedom is king in Las Vegas as well 😎

[@avstryker]

I grow Black Silk thornless and two thorned varieties ... I definitely prefer the flavor of the thorned ones, but I will take any of them over store bought.

[@Talula72]

In the past I had a variety that grew canes 10-12 feet and got crazy out of control. I removed those a number of years ago. Last year I planted 3 of the Baby Cakes Blackberry Bushes. They stay smaller and compact. They were very tiny plants but this year they have leafed out so well amd have numerous flowers

[@karenburrell5188]

I have wild blackberries that grow under a tree in my yard takes a couple of weeks more before harvest but the indirect sunlight seems to be what they like.

[@nolagirlhomestead]

Two bushes, two different spots -- one full sun (ehh, not so much berries); one on north side is putting out flushes like never before. Planted same time, same year. I think north afternoon shade is better here in 9b inferno 🥵. Clear out dead canes only