Blackberry

[Hinotori]

Blackberries are why I'm thinking about getting a couple wethers

 

[NH Homesteader]

I love them, but they are taking over in an area I am cool with them taking over. If they get invasive, the goats love them!

 

[Hinotori]

The farms that raise blackberries here for selling have them on a two wire support like grapes. The berries are kept in narrow rows for easy picking and cleaning out the previous years fruiting canes. As the canes get long, they are curled in a loop and tied to the wires. Makes for easy and fast picking.

 

[Mini Horses]

If wild ones, they will not be as large or sweet as the ones you see in store but they are free...& some sugar takes care of it. Oh, watch for snakes when picking. Birds will eat their fill. Chickens eat them, also. Free food.

So, make jam, jelly, cobblers. I have a lot of them around here, not allowed to get the size of yours but, plenty!

 

[lcertuche]

We have many, many, many blackberry canes. The wild variety. They are loaded down this year with berries. Last year a bear got to them before I did. I'm hoping he/she has moved on this year.

Wild blackberries have a better taste than tame for jellies, cobblers, etc. and tame have more disease, worms and bugs. Fertilizer and watering means a larger harvest (generally) but the best thing I do is cut down the canes after picking.

 

[Chic Rustler]

We have many, many, many blackberry canes. The wild variety. They are loaded down this year with berries. Last year a bear got to them before I did. I'm hoping he/she has moved on this year.

Wild blackberries have a better taste than tame for jellies, cobblers, etc. and tame have more disease, worms and bugs. Fertilizer and watering means a larger harvest (generally) but the best thing I do is cut down the canes after picking.

Why do you cut them down?

 

[lcertuche]

Yes, I used to wonder why the blackberries would stop being productive and friends of mine had the best blackberry patch in their hay field. It turned out they would mow them down late in the summer. It was nice to pick there because they were growing in a huge jungle of canes with little fruit. I read up on them and found out you need to cut the old canes for the new ones to be productive.

 

[Hinotori]

I cut out the old canes during winter on my thornless and one patch of the wild things by the drive entrance. The spots are narrow and easy to pick.

The canes on the thornless make good stakes for smaller plants. Don't last more than a season, but free is free.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Theres no canes. This is a giant thorn bush. Maybe its not blackberry, but they look and taste like blackberry

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Native blackberries are not going to be thornless...