Growing Blackberries in Phoenix Arizona

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject:

Sure sounds good then.

psimitry · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: maricopa

Quick pic of one I picked up from a nursery a while ago - this one is three canes and is flowering already:

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

Nice.

psimitry · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: maricopa

When you planted yours, how long did it take to leaf out? I've had them in the ground for a week now and nary a leaf to be seen. Embarassed

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

I don't recall, but a week isn't much. If after a month you don't have anything then I'd start to worry. I might have started them in a pot first, but they should also work directly in the ground. You might want to try putting a fraction of them in a pot in some good potting soil. The miracle grow moisture control is a decent potting soil.

psimitry · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: maricopa

Welp. So my blackberry experiments don't appear to be doing well.

The plants I ordered have been in the ground for three weeks with no signs of life. Additionally the one I picked up from the nursery hasn't been doing well over the past week. The leaves in the middle and top have largely wilted and died. The flowers don't look so good either. Oddly enough, there are new leaves near the bottom so I think it's getting enough water. It's confusing.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject:

A lot of blackberry varieties simply can't take the heat here. Black Satin does well though, but maybe putting them directly in the ground instead of getting them started in potting soil made life a bit hard for them. However, leave them in the ground for now and mulch them heavily, keep them moist and hope for the best.

By the way, you should come by some the AZRFG meetings some time. We are always giving away blackberries. I don't think they have any extra black satins right now but there are some other decent varieties that do well here.