Pruning is a mandatory part of the care program for blackberries, much more so than for other berry bushes. Without the courageous use of the scissors, they grow lushly, but the harvest suffers greatly. This information should be enough motivation to practice austerity.
How are blackberries properly harvested?
Blackberries are harvested in summer, aroundend of July. Leave the 4-5 strongest of the newly sprouted canes standing. If necessary, shorten their length to the desired height.
Why do blackberries have to be harvested?
Pruning ensuresmore flower abundance and abundant yield Blackberries fruit on two-year-old canes. Therefore, the newly sprouted canes of each year are crucial for the harvest of the following year. Unfortunately, blackberries tend to overgrow. Side shoots, also known as stingy shoots, form on the new canes. They use nutrients and water, but will not bear fruit, but will take away a lot of sun from the fruit shoots.
Does thinning have to be done in summer?
It makessenseto do the thinning with a summer cut, around the end of July. Because if the blackberries in the garden are allowed to grow unchecked until late autumn, they will not only consume a lot of nutrients, but alsoform a thicketCutting the blackberry bush back to the necessary size is likely to be a lot more time-consuming and, depending on the variety, very prickly. In the first year, blackberries are cut back to 1-2 main shoots immediately after planting and thinned out in summer.
How do I properly harvest blackberries?
Remove the weak new shoots completely. From this year's other shootsshorten all side shoots to two buds:
- Clean and disinfect cutting tools
- choose an outward-facing bud
- can be seen as a distinctive thickening on the shoot
- Place the scissors about 5 to 10 mm above it
After the harvest season or at the latest in the spring of the following year, you should also cut off any fruit shoots that have been removed close to the ground. Alternatively, it is possible to cut back to around 10 to 15 cm, then young rods will sprout at the base in spring.
How can I tell the age of the rods?
Unlike annual canes, biennial canes bear fruit. But sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between worn and new rods. Ensure more order by training the canes alternately on the trellis. This means: tie all the fruit shoots on one side of the wire trellis and the young canes on the other side. If you cut back the worn canes, the espalier side becomes free again and can be used for new growth the following year.
Tip
Attention: Cut canes can quickly grow back when they come into contact with the ground
It is better not to compost the clippings but to burn them, as blackberries can easily form roots even in compost. You can pluck the green leaves beforehand and use them for tea, both fresh and dried.
