Growing Blackberries in a Warm Climate
People are often surprised that I can grow blackberries in Inland Southern California, where the summers can be oppressively hot. Blackberries can be grown successfully in a warmer climate if you plant in a good location and provide the proper care. We started with five bareroot blackberry canes. Once they were established they began spreading. We now have several berry producing canes and we're even transplanting some into other shady spots in the yard.
- Key to successful blackberry growing in warm climates is location. Blackberries prefer a cooler climate, so choose an area where they will receive morning sun and be shaded in the afternoon. We planted our first canes on a north facing wall.
- Start with fertile, well-draining soil. Good soil is the basis for healthy plants. Work in lots of organic material and some good compost before planting.
- Lots of moisture will keep your blackberry canes growing and producing. Make sure to keep the soil moist. A mulch of dry leaves is perfect. As the plants grow they will drop some of their own leaves. I let them stay where they fall. The leaves help hold in moisture and keep the soil temperature cooler. They also decompose and feed the soil.
- Feed your blackberry canes. I use good old-fashioned, homemade compost. It really is natures best fertilizer. Work it into the soil around the canes and water it in well. I fertilize the berry canes before they start budding out new leaves in the spring, and once again in the fall.
Blackberries produce fruit on second year canes. The first year we planted we harvested five, count 'em - five, blackberries. I ate them all. Last year, our second year they were pretty productive. This year, our canes are literally dripping with berries.
Once your blackberries are established, they will begin to spread. Choose a location where they plenty of room to grow. You may need to find new spots in your gardens to transplant some of them into. Another option is to share some of the new plants with neighbors or give them as gifts. The canes can take over a garden, so they are best planted away from other plants and garden areas, although I have ferns growing in front of our original planting and they seem to be holding their own.
