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Cut back blackberry floricanes that are still alive the following year?.... #780643
Asked January 22, 2022, 6:27 PM EST
My 'Triple Crown' blackberry fruited last summer, but it's floricanes never died back. Now, in late January, they are happy and green and look ready to regrow. Admittedly, the top/end 2 feet that produced the berries DID turn brown and die, but the bottom 5 feet is still green (even after our sub-zero winter!). Should I be cutting these to the ground or will their laterals grow and fruit?
Thanks, Alan
King County Washington
Expert Response
Your 'Triple Crown' blackberry is a summer-bearing variety. It will bear fruit this year on the primocanes that started to come up last year during the growing season--the primocanes did not bear fruit last year, but they become THIS year's floricanes which will produce the fruit this August.
Last year's floricanes that were not pruned to the ground after harvest should be cut off at crown level so they won't compete for nutrients with new floricanes.
OSU has a great publication about caring for raspberries in the PNW. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1306.pdf WSU also has a good publication:
http://pubs.cahnrs.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/04/em103e.pdf
