Blackberries

Image by Volga2012 Blackberries are a sometimes overlooked berry. In some areas of the country, they grow unbidden and as vigorous as weeds. In other regions, the sweet nectar of the berry is sought after,…

Image by Charles Drake, Va Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Blackberry anthracnose is a common fungal disease plaguing many home gardeners who enjoy growing brambles for their tasty…

Image by University of Georgia Plant Pathology Archive, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org In my neck of the woods, blackberry bushes can be found everywhere from the forests to the suburbs to empty urban…

Nematodes, commonly referred to as eelworms, are microscopic worms that feed on plant roots. Most nematodes are harmless and some are even beneficial, but there are a number of others that can do severe damage, especially to a…

Image by Natalya Mamaeva It’s frustrating to sit and wait for the first blackberries of the season to ripen, only to find that your blackberry bush won’t grow berries. Maybe the blackberry fruit are not…

Image by Grahamphoto23 The blackberry bramble in the wild is an important food and shelter plant for many birds and mammals. In the garden however, a wild blackberry plant may be viewed with horror, due to…

Image by egschiller Pruning blackberry bushes will not only help keep blackberries healthy, but can also help promote a larger crop. Blackberry pruning is easy to do once you know the steps. Let’s take a look…

Image by Ashley Coffey via GKH Scavenger Hunt Memories of wild blackberry picking can hang with a gardener for a lifetime. In rural areas, blackberry picking is a yearly tradition that leaves participants…

Image by saraTM If your blackberries refuse to ripen, they may be suffering from redberry mite syndrome. The microscopic, four-legged mites get inside the berries and cause serious damage. Redberry mite…

Image by Gwenvidig Propagating blackberries is easy. These plants can be propagated by cuttings (root and stem), suckers, and tip layering. Regardless of the method used for rooting blackberries, the plant…