Blackberries

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission . If you’re wondering whether you’d be able to grow enormous berries like the ones you see in the store, or if they’d be smaller, or how long the lovely fruits have been around, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about growing your own blackberries. Here’s what I’ll cover: The fruits are not true berries at all, but rather, aggregate fruits made up of small round drupelets. Unlike raspberries, blackberries keep their core intact when picked. Blackberries are perennial plants that bear fruit on biennial canes. They grow new green stems, known as primocanes, every year, and these typically bear leaves but not flowers on what are known as “floricane fruiting” plants. Blackberries are self-fertile, which means pollen from one plant can fertilize the same plant – there’s no need to plant another variety nearby for cross-pollination purposes. But these berries are not self-pollinating: they require bees and butterflies to help transfer pollen from one flower to another. These fruits can be grown in Though rare, a newer breakthrough in blackberry breeding, primocane-fruiting varieties, also called “fall-bearing” blackberries, bear a small crop the first fall after being planted from a bare root, with a full crop following in the second year. Blackberries prefer loamy, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5...

About Blackberries and Black Raspberries Blackberries and black raspberries are both members of the genus Rubus, otherwise known as bramble plants. Brambles include raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries. Generally, brambles are thorny, bristly bushes that produce fruit during the summertime. Surprisingly, blackberries and black raspberries aren’t real berries. They’re “aggregate fruits”. That’s because they’re made of drupelets, or individual nubs, that form together to make one whole “berry.” Many types of blackberries thrive in mild climates, though some varieties can withstand warmer regions. Black raspberries, otherwise known as blackcaps or bear’s eye raspberries, prefer colder weather. What Makes Them Different? In the wild, blackberries and black raspberries can be tough to tell apart. Once you pick the fruit, you may be able to tell what kind it is by looking at the core. A blackberry has a soft white or green center. Black raspberries are hollow on the inside, because they separate from their stem when plucked. Blackberries are also larger, shinier, and smoother than black raspberries, which often appear matte with fine hairs over their surface. Health Benefits of Blackberries vs. Black Raspberries Both fruits are nutritious. Black raspberries are one of the healthiest berries, packed full of compounds called Anthocyanins create the dark purple pigment in the berry and have many health benefits. The antioxidants from these fruits may help protect your body fro...

When I was a kid growing up in the country, getting ready to pick wild native blackberries always meant pulling on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, regardless of how hot the day was. No matter how carefully we prepared, how delicately we maneuvered between arching canes and how gingerly we plucked the berries, those vines always seemed to reach out and scratch. But that didn’t keep us from the task, since these fragrant, intensely flavorful berries, tumbled into a How to Pick Blackberries at a Farm These days, a wide variety of commercially grown blackberries are thornless, making a blackberry expedition to a Once you pick a blackberry, it doesn’t ripen or change in flavor. Because of this, it’s helpful to know what to look for. Perfectly ripe blackberries are deep purple/eggplant color or black (depending on variety). They should be plump, filled out and shiny. Pass up berries that are dull, shriveled, moldy, unripe (with red bits) or overripe (squishing when you pick them). There’s one additional caveat: Never pick roadside blackberries: They may contain contamination from car emissions or herbicides. How to Choose Blackberries at the Store To buy perfectly ripe—but not overripe—blackberries at the store, look for berries that are plump, firm and shiny. How to Store Fresh Blackberries Blackberries are highly perishable, so only leave them on the counter if you’re planning on eating them that day. You don’t want to store the fruit at room temp for more than a...