Steven M

Blackberry and lavender go together beautifully, and this pairing works in everything from cocktails and desserts to candles and garden landscapes.   The sweet, slightly tart flavor of blackberry blends surprisingly well with the floral, calming notes of lavender.   If you’ve ever wondered whether blackberry and lavender go together, the short answer is yes, … Read more

Blackberries spread like raspberries in many ways, but they also spread differently in a few important ways.   If you’ve ever wondered do blackberries spread like raspberries, the short answer is yes, both spread aggressively through underground roots and sprawling canes.   But the way blackberries spread compared to raspberries has some key differences that … Read more

Blackberries produce fruit every year once the canes are mature enough to flower and fruit.   So if you’ve been asking yourself “do blackberries produce every year,” the short answer is yes, but with a few important details about how the plant grows and fruits.   Unlike some fruit trees that take years to settle … Read more

Blackberries can spread aggressively like weeds, and this is actually one of the most common concerns gardeners have before planting them.   If you’ve ever wondered do blackberries spread aggressively like weeds, the short answer is yes—they absolutely can and often do.   These plants have a reputation for taking over garden spaces when left … Read more

Blackberries send out runners, and that’s actually one of the main ways they spread and multiply in your garden.   These runners, often called trailing canes or stolons, are long stems that grow horizontally along the ground and root wherever they touch the soil.   So if you’ve ever wondered “do blackberries send out runners,” … Read more

Blackberries do produce all summer, but with a important catch — they don’t produce the same way from June through August.   Instead, blackberries produce all summer in flushes, meaning you’ll get one heavy round of fruit and then smaller waves that keep coming until the heat peaks.   If you’ve ever wondered do blackberries … Read more

Blackberries prefer acidic soil, and they will thrive best when the soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5.   If you’ve been wondering whether blackberries prefer acidic soil or if they can tolerate something more neutral, the short answer is yes, they love that slightly sour, acidic ground.   Growing blackberries in the right soil … Read more

Blackberries don’t need to be washed before freezing, but they can be rinsed if you prefer.   That answer usually surprises people because we’re so used to washing fresh produce before doing anything with it.   But here’s the thing about blackberries that a lot of folks don’t realize until they’ve got a freezer bag … Read more

Blackberries do need to cross pollinate in most cases, which surprises a lot of new growers.   If you’ve ever wondered do blackberry plants need cross pollination, the short answer is yes for many varieties, though a few can produce fruit on their own.   This is why planting more than one type often leads … Read more

Blackberries do need to be pollinated to produce fruit, and without pollination, those juicy berries simply won’t form.   Pollination is the process that moves pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts, allowing fertilization and fruit development.   If you’re growing blackberries and wondering whether you need to hand-pollinate or … Read more