Started By
Message

Anyone planting blackberries this spring? Growing experiences?

Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:28 am
Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:28 am
Has anyone tried the prime-ark traveler instead of the prime-ark freedom thornless variety? There are some at Perino’s in Metairie, and I’d like to plant a few this year.

Interested in hearing anyone’s experience with growing them.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5486 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:42 am to
Never had any luck with thornless. I've tried Prime Ark Freedom several times and they never survive the winter. I do know people around me that have them and they have had success.

I have about 50 ft of Kiowas and they are relentless. They give me about 17-18 pounds of berries a year.

Thornless berries taste great, but IMO thorny taste better.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16493 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:57 am to
quote:

prime-ark freedom thornless variety


I've had good luck with this variety. I have two of them, they're loaded every year.

Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:58 am to
quote:

I have about 50 ft of Kiowas and they are relentless.


Interesting. Good to know.

How long have you been growing them, and how many plants do you have?
Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 10:58 am to
quote:

I have two of them, they're loaded every year.


About how big are they/how much space do they take up?
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16493 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 11:04 am to
quote:

About how big are they/how much space do they take up?


I took an 8 ft hog panel and bent it into a circle around each of them so about 3' diameter. It's a little bit small for them, though. I try to keep the growing vertical as much as possible and twist the stalks around back into the panel.
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
15912 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 11:49 am to
quote:

I've tried Prime Ark Freedom several times and they never survive the winter.




I left mine uncovered during the snowpocalype last year when it got down to 3 degrees and they are still blowing and going. Loaded with flowers right now.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16496 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 2:05 pm to
I have Triple Crown thornless and I live in Metairie. Planted early last year. They didn't produce berries but are very healthy And should this year. Very tough plants and easy to propigate. Bury a can tip in the dirt for a while and it will grow roots and you can cut it off and you will have another plant. I ordered from HD website.
Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 2:12 pm to
quote:

I ordered from HD website.


What size pots were they when you ordered? Around 1 gallon or smaller?
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16496 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 2:48 pm to
The 1 gallon on HD website. Brand name is perfect plants. Came from a nursery in Florida and were very healthy. During the summer the canes got to about 6 feet long.
Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 3:48 pm to
quote:

During the summer the canes got to about 6 feet long.


Wow that’s crazy, did you train them up a trellis?

With a plant that size now you should get plenty of blackberries this year.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16493 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 5:31 pm to
quote:

Kiowas



How big are the berries? I had two of them and they'd be loaded but the berries were the same size as wild. Idk what the deal with them was.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16496 posts
Posted on 3/10/26 at 5:32 pm to
Yes. Made a trellis with stainless wire. About to redo it though.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5486 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 12:03 am to
quote:

How big are the berries?

Most are about the size of my last thumb knuckle (still big). About 20% get huge.
This post was edited on 3/11/26 at 12:13 am
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5486 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 12:04 am to
quote:

I left mine uncovered during the snowpocalype last year when it got down to 3 degrees and they are still blowing and going. Loaded with flowers right now.

I have no answer for why. Planted them right next to my kiowas and they didn’t weather the winter. Could have been an underlying issue.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5486 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 12:09 am to
quote:

How long have you been growing them, and how many plants do you have?


I planted 8 runners in 2020. They’ve run from 30 feet to about 50 feet since then. They are popping up 30 feet away in my garden. I dig those up and give them to people.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16493 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 5:52 am to
quote:

Could have been an underlying issue.


Probably. Mine made it through the same snowpocalyspe. I think it got down to 7 degrees at my house. One of them was pretty young and still made it.
Posted by Seven Costanza
The Wild West
Member since Aug 2012
2053 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 11:30 am to
Is everyone planting in full sun, or could I have some moderate success with dappled shade until noon?
This post was edited on 3/11/26 at 3:14 pm
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16493 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 12:52 pm to
quote:


Is everyone planting in full sun, or could have some moderate successful with dappled shade until noon?


During the summer mine are getting sunlight from about 8 am to 3 pm
Posted by tke_swamprat
Houma, LA
Member since Aug 2004
11047 posts
Posted on 3/11/26 at 1:04 pm to
My father in law has been having a blackberry bush forever. We took some clippings and planted them. Took off like crazy but we removed them when we got our pool installed. Try to go and clean it out every couple of years because he doesn't take care of it or pick the damn berries.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram