General Information

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • December

  January 1. Buy Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier. 2. 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 1. Buy Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier. 2. 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 1. 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. 2. 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 1. Fertilize Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions. 2. 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. 3. Mulch Mulch with a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. 4. 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 1. Fertilize Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions. 2. 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. 3. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. 4. 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 1. Fertilize Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions. 2. 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. 3. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. 4. Harvest Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

  July 1. 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. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. 3. Harvest Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

  August 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. 4. Harvest Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

  September 1. 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. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

  October 1. 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. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

  December 1. Buy Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier. 2. 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.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! January Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier. February Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier. December Buy bareroot plants in the nursery or from a mail-order supplier.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? January 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 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. December 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.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? April Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions. May Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions. June Fertilize once with an organic food designed for fruiting plants, according to package directions.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? March 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. April 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. May 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. June 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. July 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. August 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. September 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. October 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 When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? August 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 Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? April Mulch with a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. May Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. June Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. July Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. August Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. September Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark. October Maintain a 2-inch layer of shredded bark.

  Harvest When's a good time to harvest this plant? What's the best way to harvest? Are there special requirements or features? June Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet. July Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet. August Harvest fruit when it darkens, becomes slightly soft and is sweet.

  Special requirements Any other requirement for this plant? Is there anything that doesn't fit into the other care categories? March 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 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 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.