How to Grow Blackberries: The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Blackberry is also called dewberry. It is a perennial vine of the Rosaceae family. Blackberries are very high in nutritional value and are regarded by the United Nations as a third-generation new specialty fruit. With honorific titles such as “black diamond” and “fruit of life,” blackberries have been cultivated in our country for nearly 40 years. Now the blackberry planting area is also becoming wider and wider, so if we want to grow them, how should we plant them? Below, the editor brings you the blackberry cultivation techniques. Let's take a look together!
1. Site selection and land preparation
Blackberries have relatively high requirements for soil and the surrounding environment. First, we should choose soil with normal drainage and irrigation, deep and soft soil layers, and rich organic matter. Keep the soil pH at around 6.5 and ensure the planting site has sufficient sunlight. Then carry out land preparation. When preparing the land, deep plow and cultivate it, and the depth must not be less than 25 cm. Apply enough base fertilizer, mainly fully decomposed farmyard manure. If the soil is insufficient in organic matter, increase the amount of base fertilizer, adjust the nutrient ratio properly, and supplement the nutrients lacking in the soil through the base fertilizer to ensure healthy growth of blackberries.
2. Timely planting
Blackberries are generally planted in early spring each year. When planting, control the planting density well and dig the planting holes properly. The planting density depends on factors such as soil fertility. For example, for medium fertility, keep the plant and row spacing at about 1.5*2 m to ensure the blackberry plants have enough space to grow. If the soil is clayey and low in fertility, then we should use the trench planting method. After digging along the rows for planting, apply enough base fertilizer. When planting, keep the plant roots separated from the fertilizer to prevent root burn. After planting, cover with fine soil up to the root crown of the plant. After planting, water thoroughly to help the seedlings establish roots and improve the survival rate.
3. Fertilizer and water management
Every winter, carry out a thorough plowing of the soil once, and then apply an appropriate amount of base fertilizer per plant according to the number planted. During the blackberry growing period, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be the main type, mainly in the two periods before flowering and during fruit development. When topdressing, pay attention to the nutrient ratio and reasonably adjust the proportions of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If the soil has sufficient nitrogen, then focus on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; otherwise, focus on nitrogen fertilizer. In mid-June, if there is little rainfall, then water in time to ensure the fruit can absorb water. But if there is too much water, pay attention to drainage.
4. Field management
Blackberry is a semi-erect variety, so when planting, supports should still be set up properly and the work of guiding the vines onto the trellis should be done well. In the orchard, set up a post about every 5 m, with the post about 2 m tall, to promote the growth of blackberries. Then do a good job of shaping and pruning. When the canes grow to about 1.2 m, pinch the tips in time to control the growth height and promote the growth of side branches. Then tie them to the posts to improve the air and light penetration in the orchard. Prune them at least three times each year to ensure healthy growth of blackberries and create a good growing environment for them.
The above is a brief introduction to blackberry cultivation techniques. Blackberry fruits are relatively fragile. After being picked, they must undergo sterilization and freezing within four hours, otherwise the nutrients will be greatly lost and they will deteriorate. Therefore, the market price of blackberries is very expensive, but they are also not easy to grow, so I hope everyone will consider carefully before planting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.