View Full Version : Good blackberries for zone 7?
CoryS
10-03-2010, 06:12 PM
Hi. :) I tried to buy some blackberry bushes when I bought my Ensete Maureliis but the company said they wouldn't take blackberry orders till November. I wanted the Apache blackberries since they're large and sweet but I was told they wouldn't like zone 7. If anybody has any ideas, I'm def all ears! Thanks! :)
Btw, I've never tried to grow berries before.
RobG7aChattTN
10-03-2010, 06:51 PM
I've got Arapaho, but I haven't had them for very long. They are thornless and self supporting (so you don't have to use a trellis) but what really sold me was that they will fruit on the current or last years canes. Usually blackberries only fruit on one year old canes and you have to cut them after they fruit or have old canes clogging the clump. I didn't want to mess with all of that, plus if they get out of control I can just mow the whole thing down and still get fruit the next year (instead of wait an additional year for fruiting canes).
Richard
10-03-2010, 07:29 PM
Btw, I've never tried to grow berries before.
Blackberries and most plants in Genus Rubus really like Rose food.
CoryS
10-03-2010, 09:25 PM
Thanks guyz! :) I will def check out the Arapaho blackberries. I love blackberries so I really wanna get something that works good. And we have roses here and bone meal and epsom salt and everything. We also have rose food.
Rob, let me know how yours do! :D
RobG7aChattTN
10-05-2010, 06:43 AM
So far mine are growing slowly. I totally expected the blackberries to explode and spread, but I've never tried to grow them before. Usually I'm spraying round-up on them to kill them off. I have a vacant 10 ac next to me just overrun with blackberries that are trying to run over my property. I'll eat a few berries when they are in season, but the wild types tend to be pretty sour and are better for pies (which are awesome!) I've only gotten a few berries off of my Arapaho and my raspberries (strangely just ate a few yesterday when I was mowing...in October!) I'll try and remember to let you know how they do next year. I'm sure they will take off next year.
CoryS
10-05-2010, 05:43 PM
If wild ones make awesome pies, I'll def check into growing some of those too! :D 10 ac's next door sounds like heaven! We got a few raspberries this year but I dont know what kind they are and this was their first year. But they are def a cane type and the canes died after they made berries. I'm also hoping to have strawberries too since a friend of mine wants to give me some plants!
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