Master the art of training trailing berries for a massive, manageable harvest every year.
In short: Trailing berries like blackberries and loganberries can quickly become an unruly thicket if left to their own devices. By separating your fruiting canes from the new growth and utilizing a simple post and wire system, you can maximize your yields while keeping your garden tidy and easy to manage.
To achieve a bumper crop, the secret lies in the separation of growth. Most trailing berries produce fruit on two-year-old canes, meaning the growth from the previous season is your primary producer. As the season progresses, keep the current year’s new canes distinct from the fruiting ones. A common method involves tying new canes in a vertical bunch in the center of your support system, while training the fruiting canes along the lower wires. Once the harvest concludes in autumn, you can prune the old, fruited canes directly from the base, then move the bundled new canes into the space previously occupied by the fruiting ones.
The specific training technique depends on the vigor and rigidity of your cultivar. For highly vigorous varieties like 'Himalayan Giant', 'Fantasia', or 'Ashton Cross', you can twist canes around wires to save space, with some plants supporting up to 24 fruiting canes. In contrast, modern cultivars are typically limited to 16 canes, split evenly on each side. If you are growing rigid varieties like 'King’s Acre Berry', a fan-shaped arrangement is more effective. Regardless of the variety, always inspect your plants in spring to remove any growth damaged by winter frost.
A sturdy post and wire system is essential for productivity. To build one, use 2.5-meter posts driven 75 centimeters into the ground at 5-meter intervals. Stretch galvanized wire between these posts at 30-centimeter vertical intervals. Space your plants 2.5 to 3.5 meters apart along this structure. If you are in zones 7-8, aim to complete your pruning and training between late September and Christmas. Note that primocane varieties, such as 'Reuben', behave differently; they fruit on new canes produced that season and require pruning in February, similar to autumn-fruiting raspberries.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Train Blackberries and other Trailing Berries for Maximum Yields
- Also: Blackberry and hybrid berry pruning | RHS Advice
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