What You’ll Need to Grow Blackberries on a Patio
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of planting and caring for blackberry bushes, let’s look at what you’ll need.
Blackberry Plants – You’ll need at least two plants, ideally three or four. Plant them in a container with good drainage, so that they don’t sit in water. Even though you’ll be planting in a container, you’ll still want good drainage so that excess water doesn’t build up.
Containers – Blackberries do best in containers. They’re a heavy, thirsty plant, and so need good drainage. Additionally, blackberry bushes are very tall, and they can get quite heavy, so you’ll need a tall growing space to make sure they have enough room to spread out.
How to Grow Blackberries from Seeds
Blackberries grow on small, blackberry-like flowers that are very fragrant when they bloom, but smell much sweeter than the actual berries themselves. Most blackberry bushes are self-pollinating so you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination. This means that when you grow your own blackberry bushes, you’ll be able to enjoy both the smell and taste of the flowers and the actual fruit.
Seeds are a good option for those who want to try growing blackberries but don’t have the space for a full-blown patch. You can sow the seeds directly into a container, or if you have a little more space, you can plant them into a seed starting tray.
Blackberry plants grow best in full sun, and will produce fruit when the temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They need well-drained soil, with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
Propagate Blackberry Plants from Cuttings
Growing blackberry cuttings is a fast and low-cost way to expand your blackberry patch, but you’ll have to provide some support for the cuttings to take. Ideally, you’ll have a sturdy trellis of some kind that you can use to support the new growth. Alternatively, you can use chicken wire to create a fence around the cutting area, and then slip the new growth through the wire. Either way, make sure the new growth is suspended so it has plenty of air to breathe.
You’ll want to take cuttings from at least two, but preferably three or four different blackberry plants. You can collect the cuttings from the base of the bush, either by cutting off a section of stem that’s about two inches long, or by pinching off a few flowers. You can then pop the cutting into a container or put it into a jar of water with some growth medium.
Blackberry cuttings need a well-drained soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. You also want to make sure the soil is warm – between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit – because this is best for rooting cuttings.
Get Your Hands Tired in the Garden
If you’re looking to grow blackberries in your backyard, you might be tempted to just buy the bushes and call it a day. But the most delicious blackberries are grown in containers.
Blackberry bushes are naturally very tall and can get quite large, and in no time your home will be filled with tall plants that will block out the sun and pose a safety hazard. You’ll also spend a lot of time weeding and pruning, and in the end, the reward isn’t worth the work.
Instead, try growing blackberries in a container. You’ll enjoy the same delicious blackberries, with none of the hard work and mess. Containers are also much easier to move from place to place. You can put your blackberry container in a sunny spot, or in an area where it will get some shade, such as a part of your patio away from the house.
The Final Up-An-4 for a Delicious Snack Though
If you’re serious about growing your own blackberry patch, it might be worth investing in a few more tools. A trellis is essential, but it’s a good idea to get a high-quality cultivator, too. This will make planting and cultivating the new growth much easier.
When it comes to picking your crop, it’s best to pick the ripest berries, so that they’re juiciest and sweetest. Ideally, pick them on a sunny day when the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can also freeze fresh blackberries to enjoy later in the year. Wash the berries, put them in your freezer, and when you have time, you can pull them out and enjoy a sweet, blackberry snack.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to grow blackberries on your patio, or you want to expand your existing patch, there are few challenges that you’ll face. With a little patience, some ingenuity, and a lot of delicious blackberry, you’ll have blackberry bushes growing in no time.