2022 blackberries

[BamaProud]

Based on the past 5 or 6 years, I'm going to estimate I'll pick around 40 pounds of blackberries over the next 4-5 weeks.

The most I have ever picked in a season is just over 30 pounds.

 

[BamaProud]

I think I started growing these in 2015

 

[UCStandSitter]

Big year for ours as well. Not sure what the deal is but they have exploded.

 

[Omega]

I'll have to go out to my place to see if they are putting out this year, I must have at least 3 acres of these darn things, but can probably only access a few, though should be a whole mess of them.

 

[Chapman]

Looks really good. Do you know the variety you planted?

 

[BamaProud]

Looks really good. Do you know the variety you planted?

Natchez on the left and Ouachita on the right.
(I may have this backwards)
The Natchez ripen earlier and aren't as sweet as the Ouachita but both are great and produce a lot of berries.
From my experience wild blackberries are sweeter and better to eat off the vine. But the thornless varieties are just as good or maybe even better in cobblers, wine, jam/jelly etc...

 

[BamaProud]

First blackberry pick 2002. just over 2.5 pounds

blackberry pickin' #2 over 4.5 pounds
[

 

[BamaProud]

5 more pounds of blackberries:

 

[BamaProud]

The heat this week seems to have slowed down production a little.

 

[TnKen]

How long after you planted them did it take for them to start producing?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Those things are huge! Our place is loaded with them this year, but they aren't that big

 

[BamaProud]

How long after you planted them did it take for them to start producing?

About a year depending when you plant them. They need a Summer and fall to grow without producing berries then they will start producing. After that the canes will typically produce for 2 or 3 years then die. Once established (after the first Summer/Fall) new canes will grow each Summer/Fall after planting your original canes starting a cycle of a new cane(without berries) and 2 and 3 year old canes that produce.

 

[BamaProud]

I picked over 6 pounds this morning. I think I'm at right around 20 pounds for the year.

 

[LanceS4803]

I have tons of blackberries on the property, but the deer get them before I do. :(

 

[BamaProud]

2 pounds 4 ounces today. I probably have one more good pickin' sometime early next week

 

[TnKen]

I had some ordered this spring, and they got canceled. I'm going to try again this fall.

 

[Creek bottoms]

Smaller, wild berries are far and away the best. Looking very small in my neck of the woods thanks to the drought.

 

[BigRod]

Hey bamaproud, I've been pickin ziplock bags full every day for a few days. I've noticed after washing them and what not that they turn red after freezing. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[BamaProud]

Hey bamaproud, I've been pickin ziplock bags full every day for a few days. I've noticed after washing them and what not that they turn red after freezing. Am I doing something wrong?

Yea some of them do that, I don't know why.

 

[BamaProud]

I had some ordered this spring, and they got canceled. I'm going to try again this fall.

Plant them as soon as possible so the canes have as much time to grow prior to Winter.

 

[BamaProud]

2 pounds 2 ounces today. I'm almost to 25 pounds for the year.

 

[Jon54]

Bama, tips for where to plant? Full sun or partial ok?

 

[BamaProud]

I'm not really an expert although I have had a lot of productivity with my canes over the last few years. The fence you see in the pictures at the top of this thread faces due west and my house is about 50 feet east. So the house shades them early in the day, they get about 6hrs of full sun, then they are shaded for the late afternoon hours.

Lots of people tell me birds wreck havoc on their berries. I've found that the best solution to keep birds away is to hang several reflective compact disks among the canes. The flashiness seems to keep them away.