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Planting triple crown blackberries is a rewarding way to grow your own juicy, sweet berries right at home.
If you’ve been wondering how to plant triple crown blackberry, you’re in the right place because these thornless beauties are one of the easiest blackberry varieties to grow.
The triple crown blackberry is a thornless variety known for its large, flavorful fruit and vigorous growth.
When you plant triple crown blackberry correctly, you’ll enjoy baskets of berries for years to come.
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to plant triple crown blackberry, from choosing the right spot to caring for your new plants.
Let’s dig in.
How to Plant Triple Crown Blackberry: The Basics
Learning how to plant triple crown blackberry starts with understanding what this plant needs to thrive.
Triple crown blackberry plants are semi-erect, which means they grow long canes that benefit from a little support.
Unlike wild blackberries, triple crown blackberry is thornless, making harvest a much more pleasant experience.
These plants produce fruit on second-year canes, so you’ll need a bit of patience before your first full harvest.
The good news is that once triple crown blackberry plants are established, they’re incredibly productive.
1. Choose the Right Location
Triple crown blackberry plants love full sun and need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Pick a spot with well-draining soil because triple crown blackberry roots hate sitting in water.
If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost before you plant triple crown blackberry.
Good airflow also matters since it helps prevent disease in dense blackberry patches.
2. Prepare the Soil
Triple crown blackberry prefers slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Mix in plenty of organic matter like compost or aged manure to give your plants a strong start.
When you plant triple crown blackberry, loosening the soil about a foot deep gives roots room to spread.
A soil test can tell you exactly what your triple crown blackberry plants will need.
3. Plant at the Right Time
The best time to plant triple crown blackberry is in early spring or late fall when the plant is dormant.
Planting triple crown blackberry in spring gives roots a full season to establish before winter.
If you plant triple crown blackberry in fall, do it at least six weeks before the first hard frost.
Either way, avoid planting during the heat of summer when stress is highest.
Steps to Plant Triple Crown Blackberry
Now that you know the basics, here’s exactly how to plant triple crown blackberry step by step.
1. Space Plants Properly
Space triple crown blackberry plants about four to six feet apart in rows.
Leave eight to ten feet between rows so you have room to walk and harvest.
Proper spacing when you plant triple crown blackberry improves airflow and reduces disease.
2. Dig and Set the Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
Set your triple crown blackberry plant so the crown sits right at soil level.
Spread the roots gently, then backfill with soil and firm it around the base.
3. Water and Mulch
Water thoroughly after you plant triple crown blackberry to settle the soil.
Add a layer of mulch like straw or wood chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Keep mulch a few inches away from the canes to prevent rot.
Caring for Triple Crown Blackberry Plants
Once your triple crown blackberry is in the ground, a little care goes a long way.
1. Watering
Triple crown blackberry needs about an inch of water per week.
Water deeply and consistently, especially during fruit development.
2. Trellising
Semi-erect triple crown blackberry canes benefit from a simple trellis.
A two-wire trellis keeps canes off the ground and makes picking easier.
3. Pruning
Prune triple crown blackberry after harvest by removing canes that produced fruit.
This keeps your patch tidy and encourages new growth for next year.
So, How Do You Plant Triple Crown Blackberry?
Planting triple crown blackberry is simple when you give these plants full sun, good soil, and proper spacing.
Choose the right location, plant at the right time, and water consistently.
With a bit of trellising and annual pruning, your triple crown blackberry will reward you with abundant harvests.
Now that you know how to plant triple crown blackberry, it’s time to get digging.