Fruit

When to Plant Blackberries

Vigorous bramble fruit producing sweet-tart berries in summer. Thornless varieties make harvesting painless.

Sun

Full sun (6+ hours)

Water

1-2 inches per week

Days to Harvest

365

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

48"

Frost Tolerance

high

The Short Answer

Blackberries are typically planted from bare-root stock or nursery plants in early spring, 0 weeks after your last frost date. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Blackberries

Blackberries are the easiest bramble fruit — more productive, more disease-resistant, and more heat-tolerant than raspberries. Thornless varieties (Triple Crown, Chester, Ouachita) are just as productive as thorned types without the painful harvest experience. Trellis canes for easier picking and better air circulation. Primocane-bearing varieties (Prime-Ark Freedom) produce on first-year canes, eliminating the pruning complexity of floricane types. After harvest, cut fruited canes to the ground — new canes are already growing to replace them.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 0 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 50°F.

Growing Tips

Plant bare-root canes in late winter or early spring. Thornless varieties (Triple Crown, Chester) produce as well as thorned types without the pain. Trellis for easier picking. Primocane-bearing varieties produce on first-year canes.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Tansy Hyssop

Keep away from:

Tomatoes Peppers Eggplant

Blackberries Planting Dates by State

Click your state for blackberries planting dates specific to your location:

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026