Blackberries in the desert

The blackberry plant (Rubus spp) is a fruit-producing bramble that grows well in the sandy Arizona soil and most are hybrids. Blackberries grow on 2-year-old canes with each plant capable of producing 3 to 10 pounds of berries in the two-year cycle. Arizona grown blackberries begin to ripen in May and continue to produce through June. Well-maintained plants will stay viable for up to 15 years

Each blackberry cane is biennial. Canes are fruitless the first year, bear fruit the second year, and die after fruiting. In June following harvest, all fruiting canes (floricanes) should be removed, leaving only the leafy vegetative or primacanes. New primacanes produced in the second and subsequent years will be erect and should also be cut to a height of 3 to 4 feet in June to encourage lateral branching. Remove only the top 2 to 3 inches of each cane, because more severe tipping wastes growth and produces weaker laterals. Vigorous plants may require topping 2 to 4 times. You can also just let the plants grow and get what you get.

When first planting, select a partly sunny or filtered sunlight position. Amend the soil very well, and consider that blackberries do prefer soil that is less alkaline than some of our soils can be. But with lots of amendment, they can be grown well in Arizona. Many people choose to grow them in large, raised beds. Water regularly and evenly, and feed regularly with a balanced, organic fertilizer. Give them a lot of room as they ramble about and take up a lot of space, width-wise.

‘Rosborough’, ‘Womack’, and ‘Brison’ are varieties suitable for growing at home. ‘Rosborough’ being the heaviest producer.