How to Prune BLACKBERRY Canes PART I | Dr. Arlie Powell | INCREASING YIELD

In this educational video, Dr. Arlie Powell of Petals from the Past shares Part I of how to increase your blackberry production by pruning for next year's harvest.
At Petals from the Past, we utilize the TPUPS trellising system yearly on our blackberry fields and Kiowa Blackberry plants. This allows us to lengthen the lifespan of our plants and consistently maximize each cane's output of berries.
We are located in Jemison, Alabama, and our nursery specializes native plants, old fashioned perennials, and antique roses of the Southeastern United States. Petals' fruit farm also grows pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, grapes, persimmons, kiwi, blackberries, and blueberries, constantly researching and experimenting with the best growing practices for home and market gardeners. We hope our videos are helpful, encouraging, and inspire you in your horticultural pursuits.
Come see our growing fields in person! 📍
16034 County Road 29
Jemison, AL 35085
@petalsfromthepast
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Video creator: Sophie O'Riley
Music: Epidemic Sound
Filmed on location at Petals from the Past, Jemison, Alabama

[@alycewarr5332]

This entire video is an example of the best way I’ve ever seen on KZbin to explain a gardening issue. He gets right to the point but doesn’t leave anything out and you can see very well what he’s doing. I applaud you sir. I’ll be doing everything you have shown including how high and far apart to put my wires. I love your tips along the way. I won’t pull when I’m caught by a thorn 🤗

[@wenn9366]

I just want to thank you guys for this and the earlier videos you put up on the TPUP system. I'm in my 3rd year of growing blackberries in my garden and it's worked great! Arlie, if you use a clothespin to anchor the cane while you're tying it, you don't end up with your hands full of thorns. I just clip one of the leaves to the wire and it's like having an extra hand while you secure the cane. Thank you so much for this new video - I will pass it on!

[@ginnyk50]

I don’t know why this video popped up, but now I have to go outside and look at my 2 neglected blackberry plants that I have never pruned and definitely need trellising. Thank you, excellent video.

[@Chocamatoes]

I stumble upon your video by accident. But I want to thank you for making this video. I can’t wait to go outside an fix my plant. Now I know why it is not producing much. So grateful for the time you took to teach us.

[@patrickblair7173]

I just watched this episode, and I can’t thank you enough, for such a good common sense video. Thank you,

[@jeffmeyers3837]

Such an amazing video, hands down the absolute best blackberry pruning/training video I have seen.

[@Angela410R]

Such wonderful information on BlackBerry Trailing thing this is one thing I have been so interested in and you have schooled me on thoroughly. Thank you for taking the time to make this video as a teaching tool to all of us your information is most knowledgeable and such a gift. These videos will truly be a treasure for years to come, it certainly is to me. I will be sharing the videos with many of my friends and family. I'm anticipating on the next video to add to my playlist of treasures! Again thank you for sharing your Treasures with us!

[@kalajainen]

Would love more information on Primocane suppression. Does that just mean you are cutting off new primocanes at the ground in April and May until mid-June when you stop cutting and let them grow?

[@cameltrain100]

I’d also like more information, please. Great video and instruction.

[@JC-Utopic-Gauntlet]

I saw a video saying you want to let the primocanes shoot up around 6 feet and you prune them in July. This triggers the off shoot growth. Once you prune it the main stem will no longer grow.

[@cameltrain100]

I’ve been trying to prune the primal canes but to be frank, they grow like buggery (English term which means exceedingly fast). Prune the tops off one day and by the end of the week the side shoots are three foot long.

[@myownself7484]

Why 3 and 5 feet? Would 3 and 6 feet have disadvantages or just increase growing surface? I ask because my posts are 6 feet tall and my row is 48 feet long. I see that extra foot of real estate above that 5 foot mark shining in the sun. I have not yet run my top wire- hoping for a response from the best grower I’ve ever seen! My own father was very passionate about his garden and I learned to listen well. He fed his dozen children well. You remind me a whole lot of him, and I am growing Kiowa with my teenage kids in our backyard. Trying also - I suppose, to pass on some wisdom too- Thanks So Much And please let me know if there is any advantage/disadvantage to a 6 foot wire, rather than a 5 foot wire thank you very much. A grateful Mom

[@annharlan8926]

Thank you for all the details. I'm on my second time watching it. You are a good teacher.

[@pamelamanning99]

Music is lovely as an introduction, then enough is enough. I prefer to focus on the words.

[@isabelladavis1363]

Wonderful information for this newbie very well explained sir… thank you so much what a great lesson looking forward to to many berries… stay blessed

[@tamarabrennan1988]

This is truly a Masterclass. Thank you so very much for all the detail and for your generosity with your knowledge and time. I learned so much from you that I feel confident that my production will be much better. Up to now it has been a bit of a "lucha libre" out there trying to get things under control. (That means freestyle wrestling where there are no rules.)

[@jamesd.mattingly456]

This guy is my new best friend. He succinctly explained what I need to be doing. Now I just need to get to work...

[@peggegolden1]

Thank you, sir! Your training will move into the next generations. God bless you!

[@Big88Country]

Thank you Sir! Very easy to understand and a great system. Appreciate your time and knowledge shared with us!

[@IsaiahLegrant]

The information here was very insightful and so much appreciated. I’m growing some blackberries right now and this was a wealth of information

[@usmsci]

How would this technique change for blackberry varieties from Univ. of Ark that are primocane? (i.e fruiting off of floricane and primocanes - berries in summer and in fall, until the frost kills it). I currently I have Ark, Prime 45 and Ark Freedom.

[@DrRichardHagmeyer]

Thank-you for your video. I learned a lot, however I cringe at the amount of waste and plastic being used? Are there reusable materials you might consider for our environment-

[@dopapier]

Very good (apart from the music) but with the problems of plastics these days, wouldn’t it be better to use string?

[@countryinthecity3736]

I live in upstate NY, in the Hudson Valley. I grow thornless blackberries, it's my second year, last year my vines were small. This year they are 6+ feet tall and some branches to the side are 6-8 feet long. I'm having a hard time keeping birds away from my ripe berries. Im using bird netting but it's a pain to pick the berries as they ripen . Is there a better way in your opinion?

[@southernroots2229]

Thanks. You seem like you are so experienced and I really appreciate somebody with all that experience showing us younger people of growing blackberries what we need to do. Thanks for the in-depth instructions. Probably one of the best instructional videos I’ve ever seen about growing blackberries.

[@debodeeful]

Excellent information, and very easy to follow. Thank you so very much! Blessings Galore!

[@njc2591]

Best blackberry tutorial I've watched, totally explains it, thank you

[@richardlmckinneysr.mckinne7260]

Great information ! I have about 200 feet of my property on an alley that I've planted in blackberry. I think they look much better than a fence and I'll share with neighbors at least one good cobbler with them . Thanks for sharing this tip

[@JimmitheV]

Question, my berries have growth coming out of the crown in late April…do I suppress these canes? If so how long do I do this? When do I let them grow and take the 2 strongest and clip the remaining canes? Thanks in advance for the help. Great video

[@Isaacmantx]

So glad for a new video on the blackberry trellis system. I have hade each one saved to a playlist since you first covered them!!

[@denaewilliamson2559]

I love the background music. It was a perfect balance with the video. So informative. I learned loads and came away encouraged! How do you keep the birds off of your berries? Blessings to you! Denae

[@zuziv5877]

Thank you very much !!! I have just planted first few blackberries/raspberries/ blueberries in my garden! I have so many childhood memories from my parent`s garden. They had beautiful blackberries. I knew some about how to take care of them but I have learned so much from you as well! Thank you for teaching us!

[@juliemcgugan1244]

I bought a little blackberry plant last spring. It literally consisted of little more than one or two spindly canes with a few leaves, nothing more. It has grown like a monster this season, but I was looking at it this autumn, trying to decide if it needs any trimming back. But almost all canes are only one year old...I had almost no fruit off it, because the plant was so young, but I should leave all canes as they are right now, so that I get fruit on all of the two-year canes this summer, right? Sorry, just a complete newby to most soft fruits.

[@dylantaylor5829]

Since its so young it wont hurt to let them all keep growing and feeding the roots for this season. Should get a decent harvest and have plenty of reserves for new canes after.

[@juliemcgugan1244]

@@dylantaylor5829 Will do so, thanks!

[@guywilliams3108]

They would grow 12 ft tall

[@the_rocs_roost]

Would this system work well for thornless floricane varieties like Ouachita? I'm in Zone 7, and I planted a small number of Ouachita blackberries in March 2023. I've trellised them similarly to how you have here. They are still producing fruit like crazy, and next year's canes are growing all over the place, and I'm worried about being able to manage them-especially since it looks like there is another two weeks worth of fruit left to ripen. Thanks for an in-depth, easy to follow video.

[@Chris-bx4vk]

Are you spraying the beds with glyphosate? That's hard to see and not worry about your health.

[@RESlusher]

I guess I have a new project for the weekend! 😁 Thanks, Dr. Powell! This is a great video series! I've already learned a lot! I always thought more canes meant more berries!

[@frankenz66]

I wonder what his yield per acre is for sure. The plants seem far apart.

[@RESlusher]

@@frankenz66 Yeah, I only had one 6' bed produce this year and it only had two plants in it; but I was able to get almost a gallon zip-top bag full this year. It's a rebuilding year! 😁

[@frankenz66]

@@RESlusher That's a fair amount 👍

[@KevW-z7z]

I'm 10 min north of cullman and got 10 triple crowns delivered today. Hope they do good.

[@royboggs3849]

I’ve got some thornless blackberries (4). Gotta do what you are showing!!! Thank you for showing these ‘tricks’!! 👍👍👏👏👏👏👌👌👌👌

[@spoonfullofsugar5406]

Very informative and clear. And I love the background music! Subscribed!

[@edwinpink5040]

Do you sell plants?

[@cartoon80s90s]

Thank you for the very informative video and for showing several examples. Now a couple of questions that hopefully will be answered. 1. Will this trailing system work on any blackberry variety? I have 4 Triple Crown blackberry plants (planted 14 months ago) in dire need of pruning, and I would like to avoid mistakes. 2. What is the benefit of using only 1 set of wires/cables compared to 2 sets placed a couple feet apart? If the plant is vigorous and healthy wouldn't 2 sets of cables increase production?

[@lesliekendall5668]

I don't understand the difference between winter vs summer pruning. You're always going to have 2 year's growth to deal with. I just FIRST cut the flora canes in the winter to 6' (so they're "standing") and the flora laterals to 12-18", and then take out the old stuff and thin the floras at the ground. And then a recent video suggested cutting the primas back to 6' in the summer.

[@frankenz66]

What is your acreage yield having them planted so far apart? I know that is maximizing the individual plant. I can vouch that the thornless blackberry give out in about 5 years. They just just stop thriving on the same inputs they did well the years previous. Thank you for the tutorial from Arkansas!

[@garyweaver317]

That probably makes it easy to pick berries with plants growing on wires but that is too much work for me. I let my plants grow a patch 3 ft wide 15 ft long. Roots will spread and produce a large patch with 15 gallons of Cumberland berries. This is zero work for about 8 years. Then I sometimes let root spread 10 ft in one direction to get another berry patch started or I transplant 50 cuttings or 50 plants to a new location. Once I start getting 15 gallons of berries from the new patch I burn the old patch. Every year I cut new canes short so they fork. Berries are very large almost 1" diameter I can pick a gallon very quick. The berry patch will produce 15 gallons from about June 20 to July 20. Thorns are very large too.

[@lime4328]

Wow Dr. Arlie’s field is impressive

[@jward9637]

I need to get some Kiowas! Thanks Doc. I currently use a plastic fencing for my trellis so I have more places to tie off the plant. Great video Doc! Thank You!

[@ryanrose2330]

Does the TPUPS methodology work for erect blackberry plants, or is it specific to the trailing type?

[@larrybrown2906]

How do you "suppress" the primocaines? It is now mid May and my new primocaines are 18-24 inches. I am in N.W Missouri.

[@brentsullivant3596]

I always wondered why Michael Jackson only wore one glove. I have been picking wild blackberries in Texas since I was 5 years old. It is interesting to see various methods of doing it professionally.

[@tammywhite9229]

I just planted thornless blackberry bushes. They were twigs but have vines about 8 foot long. Should I trim them in September since they are all new growth?

[@vikvanderhaeghen200]

Thank you for this very informative and clear video! You LEAFed nothing out

[@НораУрлав]

The background music is not necessary. Actually, it is very annoying. The teaching is already excellent and informative without music.

[@katlyn214]

Well I rather like it.

[@hostadaze]

I agree, the music is very loud and annoying!

[@Sky-Child]

Makes it difficult to concentrate on what he is saying

[@giant9833]

The music is nostalgic and sets the ambiance for a time in America, when berries and berry pies were at their peek favorability...all things have their harmony. No body cares about your individual taste in music, the set and setting is meant for the life vibrations of the berry, and caring that on by influencing the future berry caretakers. Berries and Grapes like Classical music, and so should you, if you want Great berries 😊👍🙏💯🌞

[@LightGesture]

​@@giant9833 LOL. You smoke reefer, or smoked enough of it in your day and it shows... 😅 Music is fine to me, btw. Lol

[@anitamccartney7180]

What kind of blackberry do you grow. I love your style of pruning. I started mine on a arched trellis. It is 6month old do you have some advice for a good start. Thank you in advance

[@Baritonesinger1]

Dr. Powell, can you use your pruning technique all all blackberry varieties?

[@lynnsbomb]

Thank you very much. I learned a lot about pruning from you. Keep up the great videos.

[@estebancarrasco8086]

1 pareces actor pero eres mucho mejor porque muestras realidad un gusto de verte. Te entiendo perfecto 2 esas son felco 6 muy buenas yo las uso en poda de uva de mesa. 3 tu huerto es hermoso puedo distinguir cada planta, no es una maraña q no se distingue nada 😅 4 por tu enseñanza estas invitado a un cordero acá en Chile 😊

[@kckranz1]

I am having great success with this method - eastern NC and thornless canes. My horizontal runners will soon reach the end post before the growing season has ended. What is the proper way to handle them? I could loop them around and continue in the path they came from or clip them at the end. Which is better?

[@IAMGiftbearer]

This looks so much neater than just letting them grow in a tangled mess! What fertilizer is best for Blackberries and what is the insecticide you mentioned? Can you post links to where they're sold?

[@dornspinnchenspinne2392]

A very nice video- thank you. I always use a hemp cord because it is more sustainable. No plastic in mother nature.

[@TimeMariner]

I enjoy using as must plastic as possible.

[@crasht1224]

My thornless blackberries are only sending up one cane per season. I clip the ends and then they make laterals.But it refuses to send up any new canes. Does anyone know what I may be doing wrong?

[@cpafcma]

I appreciate the way everything was explained. Thank you.

[@lianagilbert61]

thank you for the video! i learned a lot. i have just been letting mine grow on its own at the very back of the yard. i have thornless blackberries. i don't know if they are primocane so i don't know if i take off the old.

[@wendycol8354]

So i just planted a couple blackberry and Other berries. Do i train the new canes or branches that are growing from the bare root canes? Or do i leave them alone this first season?

[@air7tv]

I eat as I'm pruning 😂 can't waste those delicious berries 😂

[@danielzukle3788]

So glad you are doing more videos, hope you continue to grace us with your knowledge.

[@robertwren8878]

Ive watched many you tube videos but this is by far the best tutorial ive seen. Thanks mate now im not afraid to make a mistake!

[@ggarza714]

After I harvest by late June, I cut the down to the ground and there is enough time grow enough that I get about 20lbs each year

[@dl-so9jj]

Get you some gutter gloves. They are super thin you can feel what your doing but they are tough perfect when you got to use your finger tips

[@justinpoe9083]

Does Petals from the past sell Kiowa Blackberry plants?

[@susancarroll7697]

This makes perfect scents, but how about using twine instead of plastic ties?

[@silversurfer8001]

grew these and they were outstanding, thank you Dr. Powell !

[@carloswilliams4419]

Great Video! Love to come down and take some lessons from you.

[@jrogers1776]

Would it not be okay to compost the old canes? Or do you burn them and then put the ashes on the rows?

[@vincentpcappello4512]

Thank you for a very informative video.

[@steveo_o6707]

Why don’t you add another line of wire to place another couple cane’s?

[@marklam8548]

I love the wren..and the fact these are Kiowa... a tribe my great grandfather was able to counsel with to avoid their decimation by avoiding war.!

[@marklam8548]

Good job and advice...!

[@fomoyearsfofofiv8178]

Most, not all, U of Arkansas blackberry cultivars are named after Indian Nations.

[@batchrocketproject4720]

I'll be trying this summer pruning. Looks a lot less messy than trying to cut out hardened spent stems and untangling the new stuff without breaking it. Thanks for posting.

[@lynnsbomb]

And all the plants energy goes into the new canes instead of wasting some on that stuff that’s slowly dying. You’ll get bigger plants.

[@retireearly7223]

So much plastic! And you just let it fall into the earth. Please use cotton cloth.

[@jessylwiindi2838]

Wow, the explanation is on point ive learnt a lot Thanks for sharing

[@firecloud77]

Why are the rows so far apart? Seems like a heck of a waste of space.

[@KarlB791]

What time of year is this? Fall? Oct. Nov?

[@raysislands]

Do you treat Boysenberry the same ? Thank you for this amazing video

[@lime4328]

They are a variety of blackberry so yes!

[@ABBABEER]

A true pro would. Be eating berries as they work.

[@mikecollard1403]

Great information! Didn't need the music.

[@serkangul6573]

Merhaba gunaydin. Kullandiginiz ot ilacini merakettim . Icerigini yazarsaniz cok memnun olurum.

[@davidfileccia6317]

Definitely not retaining anything he is saying do to the music.

[@shirleynichols6849]

Oh geez..I got a plant from home depot this summer..yep it has thorns..very much enjoyed your video..I need to prune my plant . Is it OK to prune now in October ? It's a small plant..I put a tomato wire over it and was running the new shoots around the wire..yep..are you laughing...? I gotta get it done right.! Thank you

[@wildeyedfae]

Dr. Powell, how does the flavor compare to a wild blackberry? And would these pruning/tying techniques work with a domestic, wild blackberry? Thank you.

[@paulstokes1831]

I'm from limestone County Alabama, your holding what's known as a tame blackberry. They don't taste as good as wild blackberries

[@samboherring3673]

Dr Powell, you're an amazing instructor. I bought 2 Kiowa plants last year. Question, How to you propagate new Kiowa's for expanding my garden?

[@TheHonestPeanut]

What a fantastic lesson video. So much goid info. Also this guy sounds SO MUCH like the general from the military school on the Simpsons.

[@toriwolf5978]

Oh wow interesting I’ve just been letting mine grow as long as they want ! I didn’t know you cut them off to branch out …thank you❤

[@agentbz]

Thank you, Dr. Powell. I just planted 10 Kiowa blackberries from a nursery in Georgia, and found your channel. Today I'm putting in the T post-and-wire trellis.

[@richardgeer4323]

Am i the only viewer drooling as the branches with fruit get cut and dropped to the ground? Very informative video! I'm just in my second year with my vines and I live in central Florida. Thanks for the info!

[@RachelHyde-jr3qs]

I bought 3 Kiowa blackberries from you this year. This is SO helpful. Please more videos on fruits!

[@carolrichardson2824]

The classical music is beautiful but it's hard for me to hear what you are saying over the music. Here in Missouri in zone 6B when would I want to stop cutting down my new prima cane growth and leave my 2 prima cane canes that will produce my berries the next year? I appreciate your video and have been trying to follow your teachings. I am very fearful of cutting too many prima canes down.

[@gailgilley781]

Thank you so much for all this information!

[@jeffkimble8857]

I got rid of my kiowa plants 2 years ago and put in Ponca. I regret and and starting to put Kiowa back in. This pruning style is very different than anything I have seen before. I may try this but certainly not going to be putting hundreds of feet of plastic into the environment. That is not very sustainable🫤

[@digitalbath8577]

we bought a house and i weed whacked everything to clean it up. this year i noticed all these thorny bushes that grew back, hundreds of them. yep blackberry's came back with a vengeance.

[@jamesjustice859]

I'm in NE Kentucky. Where can I get starters or this Kiowa Plant and will they grow here well enough?

[@ingridl3259]

What do you do with the canes you guys trim off? I tried composting but they remain tough & sharp still so too dangerous for cokposting... :/ we ended up having to take it to the dump but seems like a waste of organic material.

[@HeyUncleArt]

Thanks Doc! Your the best. Everything you explain is spot on! My berries are perfect five years we are up to 500 pints in the month of July. Thanks again for your information!