Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
A fruit, planted at any time of year.
In September: cut out the fruited blackberry canes and tie in the new ones (summer-fruiting plants only) and pick the crop. It can be planted now. Wear thick gloves: many varieties have sharp thorns.
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Blackberry, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown blackberry. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Plant a bare-root blackberry. | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Mulch the blackberry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Tie in the blackberry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Pick the blackberries. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual |
| Cut out the fruited blackberry canes and tie in the new ones (summer-fruiting plants only). | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear thick gloves: many varieties have sharp thorns.
Strong source: RHS.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown blackberry at any time of year, 2.5 to 4m apart, rows 2m apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Plant a bare-root blackberry October to March, 5cm deep, 2.5 to 4m apart, rows 2m apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Mulch the blackberry
Spread 5-7.5cm of garden compost, leaving a slight gap around the stems.
Usually March. Strong source: RHS.
Tie in the blackberry
Loosely tie the new stems together in a bundle in the centre of the plant.
Usually March to August. Strong source: RHS.
Pick the blackberries
Usually July to September. Strong source: RHS.
Cut out the fruited blackberry canes and tie in the new ones
For summer-fruiting plants only.
Cut fruited canes out at the base, then train this year’s bunched canes along the lower wires.
Usually August to November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Blackberry” comes from.