Blackberry

Vigorous and deeply productive once established. A thornless variety on a sunny fence will yield kilos of fruit from late summer into autumn with almost no intervention.

Waiting this month

First sprouts in New growth appears within 4–8 weeks of planting bare-root canes

Sow

—

Plant Out

Jan – Dec

Harvest

Aug – Oct

Type

Outdoor

Difficulty

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Apr

Plan ahead for this crop

•Check growing conditions
•Prepare for next stage

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

Canes planted with roots at 8–10cm depth

Spacing

3–4m between plants

Germination

New growth appears within 4–8 weeks of planting bare-root canes

Thinning

Select the 6–8 strongest new canes each autumn and remove the rest at the base

Grower's Note

Choose a thornless variety for easy picking. Blackberries fruit on the previous year's canes — the same principle as summer raspberries.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

4wks

Seeds germinate and first leaves emerge. Keep warm and moist.

Establishing

16wks

Root system develops and plant builds structure. Pot on if needed.

Maturing

20wks

Plant reaches full size and begins producing. Harvest at peak.

Total~40 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

AppleMarigoldNasturtiumElderflower

Climate Control

Today

—C

Humidity

—%

Water

Every 3–4 days

Sunlight

3–6 hours sun

Watch Out For

! Canes tip-layer readily — any stem touching the ground will root and spread; peg them up or check regularly
! Aphids colonise new shoot tips in spring; pinch out heavily affected tips to encourage natural predators to move in
! Mould spreads quickly in wet weather — pick ripe fruit regularly rather than leaving it to accumulate

What You'll Need

Equipment for growing blackberry

Seeds — Just Seed

Wide variety, UK-grown selections

Fine Mesh Netting

2m × 5m insect barrier

Organic Liquid Seaweed

Shropshire Seaweed — soil & plant feed

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Just Seed Shropshire Seaweed

Grown Organically

Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.

Read our approach

Related Crops

Marigold

Active

A companion planting essential. Deters pests and brings colour to any growing space.

Nasturtium

Active

Edible flowers with a peppery kick. Thrives in poor soil and needs almost no attention.

Strawberry

Active

The most rewarding fruit to grow at home. Plant crowns in late summer or early spring for a bumper harvest the following June.

Raspberry

One of the most rewarding soft fruits for the allotment. Plant summer-fruiting canes and you'll have a picking row that returns every year with minimal effort.

Blackberry

Growing Calendar

Sowing Guide

Growing Stages

Companion Plants

Climate Control

Watch Out For

What You'll Need

Related Crops

Marigold

Nasturtium

Strawberry

Raspberry

Seasonal Updates