Tips to Grow Blackberries in Houston
How to Grow Blackberries in Houston
Blackberries are one fruit that thrives in Houston’s unique climate. And while blackberry bushes don’t fit well in a raised bed kitchen garden, they’re the perfect addition to the kitchen garden space.
Read on to learn our tips on growing blackberries in Houston and see one of our Piney Point client’s incredible blackberry harvests.
Plant Blackberries Outside of Your Raised Beds in Houston
Bushes grow 3-4’ feet with strong, thorny branches. After just a few short years they become too massive to thrive in the raised vegetables garden and do best in an area near the garden, with strong trellises as support.
Start With Great Blackberry Plants
Investing in good quality plants and soil is one of the key factors of success with blackberry bushes, or any vegetable plant in that case. We suggest supporting local nurseries because their blackberry bushes are grown on local root stock. This means that they have been grown to succeed in the local soil. In the case in Houston, the hard to work in, clay soil.
Local nurseries are usually supportive of organic gardening practices ensuring the bushes have been raised without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.
Grow Blackberries Along a Strong Panel Trellis
During the first year after planting the blackberry bushes are getting established, but during the second year the canes will need to be trained to grow up a strong, sturdy trellis.
The Rooted Garden shop sells several styles of trellises perfect for blackberry bushes.
Amend the Soil for Your Houston Blackberries
The best way to amend the soil is by adding 2” of rich, organic compost during each season, and using a phosphorus rich fertilizer in the spring.
Blackberries prefer slightly acidic soil, which can be amended with lime if necessary.
Harvest Ripe Blackberries Daily in Spring and Early Summer
Blackberries ripen as the temperatures increase. Harvesting the berries early and often sends signals to the plant to continue producing fruit. Pick berries in the morning, before the temperatures heat up, and while the flavor is at it’s sweetest.
Prune Back Old Canes and Get Ready for More Blackberries Next Year in Houston
Blackberries are perennials with roots that last from year to year. However, the canes or plant stems are biennial, only lasting two years. As a result, those should be pruned at the end of each season to allow for new growth the next year.
We would love to schedule a consultation with you to discuss starting blackberries, or other edibles, such as fruit trees or our signature raised kitchen gardens into your landscape.