How to grow blackberries in a raised bed
Tie canes to a simple wire or trellis. First good crop the second summer.
Spacing1 plant per 2 × 2 ft
How to startPlant young plants (sold at garden centers)
When to plantAbout 4 weeks before your last spring frost
Time to harvestFrom the second year
Grows toAbout 4 ft tall
Comes back each year inZones 5–9
When to plant blackberries in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 3b | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 4a | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 4b | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 5a | — | Apr 6 | — |
| Zone 5b | — | Mar 31 | — |
| Zone 6a | — | Mar 25 | — |
| Zone 6b | — | Mar 18 | — |
| Zone 7a | — | Mar 11 | — |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 4 | — |
| Zone 8a | — | Feb 25 | — |
| Zone 8b | — | Feb 15 | — |
| Zone 9a | — | Feb 1 | — |
| Zone 9b | — | Jan 18 | — |
| Zone 10a | Winters usually too warm | ||
| Zone 10b | Winters usually too warm | ||
Tips for raised beds
- Give each plant a 2 × 2 ft space in the bed.
- It grows tall, so put it on the north side of the bed where it will not shade shorter plants.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy blackberry plants
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your blackberries go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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