[Postman]

For a bunch of years I had thorned blackberries, I always made a ton of really big berries. I got tired of bleeding every time I picked. Three years ago I ordered Arapaho thornless berries from a place on

line. They came bare root and not more than a stick with a few roots. The first year just put on a couple roots and about 6" of cane. Second year grew to a couple feet of cane and had a couple blooms. This year their third season they really took off, lots of cane (vine) growth, quite a few blooms that made some really funky looking berries (pic). Not even a handful to eat. Why did they not make a fully rounded or elongated berry?

I have them in a raised bed with good drainage, cattle panel for them to grow on, and water on timer so they get plenty of water. Fertilized with mushroom compost which works for everything else I grow.

What should I do differently to make a crop next year. What type fertilizer do they like?
I also planted three more thornless berry plants this year and took out the last of the thorned ones. They are also an indian name (cant remember what it is, they finally put on some growth. I know it's late for berries this year,would appreciate any help on next years potential crop. Thanks

 

[Mattsfishin]

I water my berries more than most people and I throw a handful of microlife at the base of them. Anytime they are putting on new canes I will feed them. All of mine are thornless and I have mentioned before not sure on the name but I do have 4 - Prime Arkansas Freedom blackberries and they are starting to produce again. In this heat and dry weather I water all my berries every other day. I trim the canes no higher than 5 feet. I did dig up 12 runners and 11 made it. All of these produced a few berries this year. This time of the year if you have to dig up a runner, take a sharpshooter and go all the way around it so you will cut the feeder root. Leave in the ground for a month or so and water often. The dig up and pot or transfer elsewhere. There are only a few months in the fall that I may not feed them. I get 7 to 9 gallons of berries off of mine. I made 14 of the WR blackberry pies in the past month. Also I can relate to the bleeding. I am on blood thinners. No horned berries for me.

 

[Postman]

Thanks for the reply. any thoughts on why the berries on mine are so deformed looking? Where do you get the microlife stuff, is it fertilizer. I guess you can't really over water them. Thanks.

 

[Mattsfishin]

microlife is an organic fertilizer. Not cheap but I use it on all of my stuff. I pay $36 for a 40 pound bag. Some places will get up to $60 a bag. I buy enough for the year from the master growers sale in january. Usually 5 to 6 bags. I did notice one year I had some of the small berries like you have and I watered more and started feeding them more and since then I get a lot of berries.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Do a soil test & find out what you are starting with before you start dumping 'stuff' on them. Soil changes over time.