pruning Arapaho blackberries - Ask Extension
I have two Arapaho blackberries planted one year ago. How do I prune these plants and do these types of blackberries need trellises?
Knowledgebase
pruning Arapaho blackberries #860455
Asked March 04, 2024, 11:13 AM EST
I have two Arapaho blackberries planted one year ago. How do I prune these plants and do these types of blackberries need trellises?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
We are currently working on revising/updating our fruit cultivation pages, including the bramble (blackberry, raspberry) content, but until the new versions are published, we can share some additional tips for staking and pruning.
All bramble plants, including those that are described as self-supporting (erect, like 'Arapaho'), will benefit from a sturdy trellis. This makes harvesting easier, though mainly for thorny-stemmed varieties, but also reduces the sprawl of plants that might otherwise root if branches were to arch down to the ground.
Loosely tie individual canes to horizontal wires, or train canes to grow between two horizontal wires (called a T-trellis). This method applies more to rows of brambles rather than solo plants, but you can still use a similar approach to help contain the stems.
During the growing season, prune out wilted, injured, and weak canes. All bramble plants also require annual renovation pruning –- removing dead canes that have fruited to encourage new shoots from the roots or crown. Renovation pruning maintains the vigor of the plants and aids in disease and insect suppression. For floricane-type varieties like 'Arapaho':
Miri
All bramble plants, including those that are described as self-supporting (erect, like 'Arapaho'), will benefit from a sturdy trellis. This makes harvesting easier, though mainly for thorny-stemmed varieties, but also reduces the sprawl of plants that might otherwise root if branches were to arch down to the ground.
Loosely tie individual canes to horizontal wires, or train canes to grow between two horizontal wires (called a T-trellis). This method applies more to rows of brambles rather than solo plants, but you can still use a similar approach to help contain the stems.
During the growing season, prune out wilted, injured, and weak canes. All bramble plants also require annual renovation pruning –- removing dead canes that have fruited to encourage new shoots from the roots or crown. Renovation pruning maintains the vigor of the plants and aids in disease and insect suppression. For floricane-type varieties like 'Arapaho':
- When plants are dormant, remove the dead floricanes that fruited the previous season. Thin the first-year raspberry shoots (primocanes) to a 6-inch spacing at the base. Blackberry stems should be thinned to 3-4 strong primocanes.
- Primocanes are also “tipped” at a 3-4 foot height to encourage lateral (side) shoots to form. The laterals are shorted to a 12-18 inch length for maximum fruiting.
- When removing dead, fruited canes or excess primocanes, make the cuts at ground level so that the dead stubs do not protrude where they can harbor canker-causing fungi. Remove all pruning waste from the planting area. Red raspberry rows should be kept under 18 inches in width to help maximize airflow and keep the lower canopy dry.
Miri
