In 2011 I planted an assortment of raspberries and blackberries. The raspberries failed (high heat and humidity?) the blackberries thrived. Collectively known as brambles, raspberries can be easily identified because they have a hollow center where picked. 2015 was a good year for blackberries – I picked many and froze the surplus and now enjoy them with oatmeal breakfasts.
Blackberries propagate by tip rooting – where their long canes come down to the ground they form roots and new plants grow. Although thick grass is supposedly bad for berries, I notice the canes root easily in grass – they descend and snake along for a foot or more before establishing roots. With the plentiful rains and warm weather I have been working the berry trellises – relocating rooted canes to new areas, weeding and fertilizing (chicken manure and compost), and mulching with cardboard and newspapers, and then adding thick layers of oak mulch.
Between the 2 rows of blackberries is a trench (2ft by 3ft) filled with large decomposing logs designed to snare and infiltrate rainwater. The blackberry canes have discovered the trench and are establishing themselves.
I have thorn and thornless blackberries. The thornless Navaho is very tasty, easy to pick and grows prolifically.
