How to Grow

From seed

Growing from seed won't produce berries the first year.

The seeds require stratification the first year and will grow the second year.

Place damp peat moss in a sandwich bag and put seeds in the peat moss.

Close this and put it in your refrigerator for 3 to 5 months.

The temperature must be between 33 to 35 degrees F to stratify the seeds.

The seeds should start to open up in the cold.

Plant the seeds in a flower pot with stones or broken terra cotta in the bottom for drainage.

Use a soil made for fruit and mix it with compost.

Keep the seeds moist until they start to sprout.

Mix in more compost about every month and water when soil starts to feel dry.

From seedling

Plant seedlings outside during spring (the spring after you planted the blackberry seeds) Place the plants in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil.

Place a trellis behind the plants to help hold up their canes.

Dig out the hole large enough so as to not bend the roots and mix soil with compost before planting the seedling.

Plant the plants 50cm apart with rows up to 2m apart.

Keep mulch on top of the soil around the plants to keep out weeds and hold in moisture.

From Plant

Before planting seed, clear away any weeds as their competition will slow the growth of the berries.

Fertilize soil.

Set ouf the dormant canes 1.5m apart in rows 2m apart.

The canes can be tied together loosely with twine.

If using a trellis or structure for the blackberries to grow on, make sure this is placed in at planting time.

Water as required.

After pruning in summer, feed with plant food.

Ready to harvest

Pick berries when they turn dark red or purple in color.

Pick up any berries that fall to the ground.

Collect seed

Seeds come from the blackberry.

Wash the blackberry, and put it in a small strainer.

Use the back of a spoon to mash the blackberry.

This will start to separate the flesh from the seed.

Continue mashing until all the flesh is removed from the seed.

Rinse off the flesh.

Store the seeds until they’ve dried and you are ready to plant them.