Growing Blackberries without Thorn

Growing blackberries in container is very simple!

We love fruits of all kinds. However, in our eyes, the growing space is limited.

Growing blackberries in container of bio soil from first day to the day 162

Image 1-4

In order to create space, we have made our back garden into a half container garden in the year 2013.

The first completed cluster of flower buds came on the day 170 and the berry plant was expanded on the day 178

Image 5-8

A Raspberry plant would be interesting; however; we preferred a thorn-less blackberry.

On the day 185 the black berry buds were turning down and produced a wide opened pinkish white flower

Image 9-12

We have selected an almost bare; 42cm tall (excluding roots) blackberry, Rubus fruticosus 'Thorn-less Evergreen' (Braam in Dutch) plant on 16 November 2013 (above picture 1).

A Cluster of blackberries were growing green on plant from the day 203 to the day 213

Image 13-16

Growing Blackberries Condition

The rubus fruticosus plant was expanding while the green berries were turning red in the month of July

Image 17-20

Ground Required:
Moist and well drained Bio Soil

Location:
A Sunny place from the spring (North side of the garden)

Container:
An oblong reusable and recyclable black plastic container, size 32cm (W) x 28cm (H)

The beauty of red and black berries and the three ripe fruits harvest

Image 21-24

Growing Blackberries Observations

Damges were done by the birds and the insects started from the day 261

Image 25-28

On 28 March (day 132) started showing the new and tender leaves (picture 2 above).
On 5-4-2014 (day 140) the side shoots appeared (above picture 3).
On 27th April (day 162) whole plant enlarged (picture 4).
First completed cluster of flowering buds was shown on 5 May, the day 170 (picture 5).

Berries can be ripen with a better size if there is no disturbance

Image 29-32

The moment you discovered a baby Lady beetle was born between the leaves (picture 6), you knew that you need to be more alert of the Aphids.

The plant had grown thicker and carried 5 clusters of fruit buds on 10 May (day 175); and it requested for re-arrangements of stems (picture 7&8).
Fruits buds were turning down one by one on 20 May, the day 185 (picture 9).
The first flower bud was ready to open on 21 May, and eventually showing its beautiful pinkish white flower (picture 10-12).
Thereafter, the tiny green berries were forming from the bottom up (picture 13&14) on 7 July 2014, the day 233.
From 6 - 11 July all green berries were turning to red (picture 17-18).

Blackberry Plant's Developments

A new shoot was extended to the right; when the whole cluster of green berries were completed on 17 June (day 213).
The side shoot on the right has expanded to 235cm (above ground) from 13-28 July and climbing up, so it was time to decide how you wish it to be attached to the trellis (picture 19&20).

Freeze the berries when they are totally ripe and in shining black

Image 33-36

Blackberries Collection:

Harvest the first ripe blackberry on 29 July, the day 255 (picture 21&22);
On 1 August harvested the second and the third berry (picture 24).

I truly enjoy seeing the contrast of one whole totally red cluster of berries (picture 25); with another cluster of red and black mix (picture 23).

The Thorn-less evergreen berry plant maintained its healthy form from the late Summer to late Winter

Image 37-40

Growing Blackberries Facts

Damages started with the birds on 4 August (picture 26&27) and followed by the Aphid insects (picture 28).
You will noticed that the blackberries (picture 29) needed our help to turn them towards the sunlight; otherwise the bottom of the fruits may not be ripen.
If the growing environment is essential, the berries could expand into a better size (picture 30); and to be ripen in time.
If the berries are not ripen naturally on the vines, they will eventually returned to red colour (picture 35).
Unripe berries are supper sour!
If the rain fall is too often the berries will be taste-less; just like strawberries.
The last totally black cluster of berries were hanging on the vine (picture 33&34), on 15 Aug 2014 (the day 272).
You can accumulate and freeze the blackberries in a tightly sealed container; if you are not using them right away (picture 36).
Resting period has began when partial of the plant was turning red on 29 August, the day 286 (picture 37); and the leaves were in deep red on 3 November 2014, the day 352 (picture 38).
Snow covered the whole container (picture 39) for several times during the winter season, and the leaves on the trellis were still in greenish red (picture 40).

Verticle space for container blackberries with one new shoot each year

Image 41-44

11. You can see the plant need not much space (above picture 41) to develop further; if you put it in a container.

12. You can spray water on the pockets (picture 43) of the old shoots even you see them dry like a cane. They might surprised you with a new growth.

13. The plant is growing one new shoot every year (picture 42&44) in the mid-spring. And you have to re-arrange all the shoots to give it rooms to develop; once it appeared.

Growing blackberries for your next ice cream toppings?

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