If you’re into gardening, you know the satisfaction of enjoying the fruit of your own labor, pun intended! But a question that arises here is, how to propagate blackberries?
There is a widely spread misconception about berries: they cannot be propagated in your garden because we usually see them growing in the most random places. Well, the good news is you can grow blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries yourself!
This goes for gardening enthusiasts and amateurs alike. We have explained two ways in which you can propagate blackberries at home, continue reading!
Before we jump into the procedure for blackberry propagation, let’s first discuss all the items you will require for the task. It is better to be prepared beforehand so there are no unnecessary delays! We have listed all the items you will need, as well as why you will need them.
You need a sturdy and trustworthy pruner to prune your blackberries, so they don’t end up getting tangled. We recommend getting the best pruners to get the job done well! If you don’t already have a pruner in your gardening tool kit, or are looking to replace your old ones, the Felco Classic Manual Hand Pruner remains one of experts’ favorites. Remember to buy a pair of rubber gloves as well, because thorny blackberry plants can prick you while pruning.
You will need some containers or plant pots to plant your blackberries in. This can be your chance to decorate your garden with beautiful plants and add to the aesthetic! You can buy a set of containers or choose different shapes and colors to suit your taste. We personally love plastic containers as they look good and weigh less, making them easy to lift and relocate. You can buy the Augshy 110 Pcs 4″ Plastic Plants Nursery Pot to start the blackberry seeds and use others to plant flowers and plants of your choice.
The potting medium is essentially an alternative to soil that you propagate or clone your blackberries in. These mixtures contain elements that will help your plant nourish and grow. You need a high quality potting medium to propagate the best blackberries. Hydrofarm is one of the most well-reputed brands. You can consider buying the Hydrofarm Fox Farm Light Warrior Soilless Mix to clone your blackberries.
According to experts
Trusted Source
Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden | OSU Extension Catalog | Oregon State University
The OSU Extension Catalog is the source for current, peer-reviewed, research-based learning materials published by OSU Extension.
catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu
, one of the easiest ways to clone blackberries is by rooting cuttings. For this you require a blackberry cane. Look for a fresh cane from the season to use. Grab your pruners and cut about 4 to 6 inches off from the tips of the blackberry canes. Also make sure it is a clean cut, which is only possible if your pruners are sharp.
Now take the container and fill it with your potting mix. Dampen the soil slightly and bury your cane cuttings at least 1 or 2 inches deep in the potting mix. This may be a little difficult to do by hand, so use a good gardening trowel to scoop up the potting mixture and place the cutting in.
Now that your blackberry cane cuttings are buried, you can proceed to water the soil, so it is perfectly moist. Place the pot in a bright but shady area to keep the soil from drying. Remember to keep the soil moist all the time at least for the first few weeks because that is when the cuttings begin to root and grow.
At this point, you can use some rooting nutrients, but you can also work without them. When it has grown strong roots, you can plant the newly propagated blackberry plant in your garden during fall or during hot spring, because that is when the blackberries will bloom perfectly.
Tip rooting is yet another easy method of propagating blackberries, especially when you already have some growing in your garden. If you had a professional gardener plant blackberries in your garden, but now you want to propagate some more, here is how you can expand your blackberry plant collection.
Tip rooting is usually done on garden land, but you can also do this in a plant pot or a separate container.
Within 2 weeks’ time, the extended tip will take a root of its own and be ready to cut off from the original plant. You can proceed to cut your newly propagated blackberry plant and have it bloom independently!
Gardening can be fun, satisfying and even therapeutic. Learning how to propagate and care for your beloved plants is a way you can nurture the world around you and cloning blackberries is the best way to start.
Now that you know how to propagate blackberries using two super easy techniques, you can grow a whole garden of blackberries and treat your friends and family to delicious desserts and smoothies!
An important part of propagating and growing berries is to take care of them properly. If you fail to nurture and nourish them, your blackberry plant will not produce any fruit, so remember to learn the proper way to care for your blackberry plants.
We hope you found this guide useful. Feel free to drop your tips and secrets to propagating blackberries and other fruits below!
