The market is full of cultivated blackberry varieties that bear more and more and larger fruits that are unguarded by thorns. But somehow they don't taste as aromatic as their mother plant in the forest. Back to the origins – is this also possible in the garden?
Can I cultivate wild blackberries?
Yes, evenwild blackberries can thrive in the garden Your main task in cultivation will be to prevent them from spreading extensively with regular, vigorous pruning. Fertilize with a little compost in spring and water on dry, warm days.
Where can I get wild blackberry plants?
You don't have to go into the forest with garden shears and a spade to get a specimen or a cutting for home.reputable tree nurseries also offer the original blackberry species (Rubus fruticosus) for sale. Some people are lucky, others also call it unlucky, that the wild blackberry settles all by itself in a corner of the garden, where it continues to multiply via roots and sinkers.
What location and soil requirements do wild blackberries have?
Blackberries are so-called pioneer plants. They colonize every free piece of earth that comes their way. They can still grow even on nutrient-poor soils and in the shade. But in order for you to experience a pleasant harvest season, the location in the garden should beshady to sunnyand the soil should behumus-rich.
How do I tame my wild blackberry?
Wild blackberry vines are prickly, grow heavily branched and reach heights of up to 3 m. At least oneclearing cutin early summer and one pruning of the worn tendrils in autumn are therefore mandatory every year. You should burn every cut blackberry vine as soon as possible or throw it in the trash, but never compost it, as it will take root again and sprout again. Also try to guide the wild blackberry vines to atrellis. The indispensableRoot barrier when planting should go at least 30 cm deep.
What other care does a wild blackberry bush need?
Wild blackberries in the forest are not cared for, but still bear fruit. It's hardly any different in the garden. Except that they are usually a little sunnier and, as they have shallow roots, they are quickly confronted with dried out soil. But you really only have towater on hot daysThe spreading ofCompost is also only done sporadically when growth slows down a bit.
Can I also cultivate wild blackberries in a pot?
The wild blackberry variety is so vigorous that cultivating it in a potis difficult, especially on the balcony. It can succeed under these conditions:
- Choose a pot with a volume of at least 25 liters
- find a sufficiently large stand
- attach a stable trellis
- Continually thin out and shorten rods
- fertilize annually and water regularly
When do wild blackberries bloom and bear fruit?
The wild blackberry plant blooms fromMay to August, on special side shoots that form on two-year-old canes. You can harvest ripe berriesfrom August until around the end of October.
Tip
Use wild blackberries as a bird-friendly hedge
The wild blackberry is a so-called bird food plant. For large plots of land designed close to nature, it is ideal as part of a flowering, insect- and bird-friendly hedge.
