Blackberries and raspberries (brambles) are a commonly planted small fruit in home gardens.
They have vigorous growth, are seldom injured by spring frost and consistently produce high-quality
fruit. The fruit is used for jams, jellies, pies and as a fresh fruit. Because of their vigorous growth,
brambles should be planted in an area where they can be contained. They lend themselves as effective
screens along property lines in landscapes. A reduction in the availability of wild berries make these fruits even more popular in home plantings. By choosing different types of brambles, you can
harvest fresh fruit five to six months each year.
They have vigorous growth, are seldom injured by spring frost and consistently produce high-quality
fruit. The fruit is used for jams, jellies, pies and as a fresh fruit. Because of their vigorous growth,
brambles should be planted in an area where they can be contained. They lend themselves as effective
screens along property lines in landscapes. A reduction in the availability of wild berries make these fruits even more popular in home plantings. By choosing different types of brambles, you can
harvest fresh fruit five to six months each year.
Types of Blackberries
Both thorned and thornless blackberries grow well in Tennessee. Each type has its advantages and
disadvantages, though the sharp barbs on the thorned type are a negative factor when grown in
the home landscape.
disadvantages, though the sharp barbs on the thorned type are a negative factor when grown in
the home landscape.
Thorned blackberries do not require a trellis, mature their fruit two to three weeks earlier than the thornless varieties and usually have sweeter fruit at maturity. They are propagated by root suckers.
Thornless blackberries are easier to prune and maintain. They produce trailing canes 8 to 12 feet
long that are not strong enough to support themselves and require some type of trellis support.
They are propagated by tip layering. Sometimes thornless fruit will sunburn because they mature in
the hotter part of the summer.
They are propagated by tip layering. Sometimes thornless fruit will sunburn because they mature in
the hotter part of the summer.
Types of Raspberries
summer-bearing, red-fruited
black-fruited
purple-fruited
fall-bearing, red-fruited
Summer-bearing, red-fruited raspberries produce one large crop of fruit in the summer. They usually reproduce by root suckers and may produce a thick hedge after three or four years.
Black-fruited raspberries are not as productive in Tennessee as some of the other types, because of their susceptibility to diseases. They usually do not produce root suckers and are propagated by tip
layering. Their canes are not very erect and require trellising.
layering. Their canes are not very erect and require trellising.
Purple raspberries mature later in the summer than the red-fruited raspberries . They are vigorous but usually require trellising. They are propagated by tip layering.
Fall-bearing, red-fruited raspberries produce both a fall crop and early summer crop. The fall
crop is the largest and produced on the upper portion of the cane, while the smaller summer crop
is produced on the lower portion of the cane. Fallbearing raspberries are often managed for a fall crop
only. With this method, all canes are cut at the ground and removed in late winter. The new canes
that emerge during the spring will fruit that fall. This is the only type of bramble that will produce
fruit the year the canes emerge. All other brambles (both types of blackberries and all other raspberries) produce vegetative canes one year, that fruit and die the next year. Therefore, canes which have fruited must selectively be removed with the vegetative canes left for next year’s crop.
crop is the largest and produced on the upper portion of the cane, while the smaller summer crop
is produced on the lower portion of the cane. Fallbearing raspberries are often managed for a fall crop
only. With this method, all canes are cut at the ground and removed in late winter. The new canes
that emerge during the spring will fruit that fall. This is the only type of bramble that will produce
fruit the year the canes emerge. All other brambles (both types of blackberries and all other raspberries) produce vegetative canes one year, that fruit and die the next year. Therefore, canes which have fruited must selectively be removed with the vegetative canes left for next year’s crop.
Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site
If possible, plant blackberries and raspberries a minimum of 300 feet away from wild or existing
plantings of brambles, to reduce the potential for disease problems. Avoid areas where tomatoes,
potatoes or eggplants have recently been grown, to reduce the potential for verticillium wilt. Plant on a north-facing slope or hillside to reduce injury from spring frost. Almost any soil type, except those that are sandy, poorly drained or droughty, is suitable. The first step in preparing a site is to take a soil
sample. Sample boxes and information sheets are available at your county Extension office. Work lime and fertilizer into the soil before planting, in
accordance with soil test recommendations. Lay out the row area and kill any weeds or grasses within
plantings of brambles, to reduce the potential for disease problems. Avoid areas where tomatoes,
potatoes or eggplants have recently been grown, to reduce the potential for verticillium wilt. Plant on a north-facing slope or hillside to reduce injury from spring frost. Almost any soil type, except those that are sandy, poorly drained or droughty, is suitable. The first step in preparing a site is to take a soil
sample. Sample boxes and information sheets are available at your county Extension office. Work lime and fertilizer into the soil before planting, in
accordance with soil test recommendations. Lay out the row area and kill any weeds or grasses within
that area. This should be done in advance of planting so any weed regrowth can be killed.
Planting Correctly
Brambles can be planted any time they are dormant, usually from Nov. 1 to March 15. If a fall
planting is made, a mulch at the base of the plant may reduce winter injury.
Either root cuttings or root suckers can be planted. If root cuttings are used, plant them about
3 to 4 inches deep. If root suckers are used, make holes large enough and deep enough to completely
spread the roots. Once planting is done, firm the soil around the plant and water well.
Spacings used for blackberries and raspberries are listed below:
planting is made, a mulch at the base of the plant may reduce winter injury.
Either root cuttings or root suckers can be planted. If root cuttings are used, plant them about
3 to 4 inches deep. If root suckers are used, make holes large enough and deep enough to completely
spread the roots. Once planting is done, firm the soil around the plant and water well.
Spacings used for blackberries and raspberries are listed below:
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