Rubus canadensis (Thornless Blackberry) - Monthly Plant Care Calendar

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis

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Also known as the smooth blackberry, the thornless blackberry provides the benefits of homegrown blackberries without the thorns. New blackerry plants require 19 to 20 months of growth before bearing fruit.

Here's what you should be doing each month of the year for this plant in Sunset Zones 22, 23 & 24: Find Your Climate Zone.

Click a month to be taken directly to that months plant care: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

January

BUY

Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier.

PLANT

Plant bareroot plants in a part-sun to full-sun location next to a sturdy support on which to grow, such as a wall, fence or wire trellis. Allow the canes (vines) that grow from the bareroot plant to spread along the ground until they are eight feet long. Then cut the cane tips to stop growth and attach the vines to your trellis. These vines will grow throughout this first year, go semi-dormant next winter and then bear fruit the following summer.

February

BUY

Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier.

PLANT

Plant bareroot plants in a part-sun to full-sun location next to a sturdy support on which to grow, such as a wall, fence or wire trellis. Allow the canes (vines) that grow from the bareroot plant to spread along the ground until they are eight feet long. Then cut the cane tips to stop growth and attach the vines to your trellis. These vines will grow throughout this first year, go semi-dormant next winter and then bear fruit the following summer.

March

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. If no rainfall, water when the top inch of soil dries.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

If you did not do so in August, attach canes that began growing a year ago to your trellis structure (wall, fence, wire trellis). These year-old canes will bear fruit this year. Allow brand new canes to sprawl along the ground until after harvest in August, at which time you prune out the canes that bore fruit and attach the new canes to the structure.

April

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FERTILIZE

Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions.

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Mulch with a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

If you did not do so in August, attach canes that began growing a year ago to your trellis structure (wall, fence, wire trellis). These year-old canes will bear fruit this year. Allow brand new canes to sprawl along the ground until after harvest in August, at which time you prune out the canes that bore fruit and attach the new canes to the structure.

May

FERTILIZE

Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions.

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

If you did not do so in August, attach canes that began growing a year ago to your trellis structure (wall, fence, wire trellis). These year-old canes will bear fruit this year. Allow brand new canes to sprawl along the ground until after harvest in August, at which time you prune out the canes that bore fruit and attach the new canes to the structure.

June

FERTILIZE

Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions.

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

HARVEST

Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

July

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

HARVEST

Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

August

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

PRUNE

Blackberries produce fruit on 2-year-old canes. After harvesting, cut the canes that bore fruit to the ground. Then tie the new canes in their place, and they will bear fruit next summer. Repeat yearly.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

HARVEST

Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

September

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

October

WATER

Blackberries require adequate water to grow well and bear fruit. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil dries.

MULCH

Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

November

Nothing Special to do in November.

December

BUY

Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier.

PLANT

Plant bareroot plants in a part-sun to full-sun location next to a sturdy support on which to grow, such as a wall, fence or wire trellis. Allow the canes (vines) that grow from the bareroot plant to spread along the ground until they are eight feet long. Then cut the cane tips to stop growth and attach the vines to your trellis. These vines will grow throughout this first year, go semi-dormant next winter and then bear fruit the following summer.

 

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You can get these instructions sent directly to your Profile page, click here to learn how.

• You can get Plant Care Reminders sent directly to your Profile page, learn how.
• See all of Julie Bawden-Davis' Monthly Plant Care Reminders here.
• See all available Plant Care Reminders at the Plant Care Hub here.
• Search for plant care alphabetically here.
  
• Add Rubus canadensis (Thornless Blackberry)  to one of your plant lists, learn how.
• Search our plant database for photos and more great information here.