Blackberries can be quite expensive and growing them makes a lot of sense! Let’s have a look at How to Grow Blackberry Fruit in India easily in pots or gardens.
Blackberries are delicious, are full of vitamins, and contribute a lot to a healthy lifestyle. If you want to have a steady and organic supply of it, then learn all about How to Grow Blackberry Fruit in India!
Botonical Name: Rubus fruticosus
Here’s all you need to know about blueberry cultivation in India
How to Grow Blackberry Fruit in India?
The best time to grow blackberries in India is preferably after rain. These plants can be easily cultivated in containers on a spot like a balcony.
You can grow these plants from seeds but to save time and effort, get a well-grown plant from a nursery.
Best Container Size for Growing Blackberries
For best growth and fruits, make sure you are using a container that’s at least 18-24 inches wide. You can also start the plant in a small pot and then gradually re-pot it in a bigger one as it matures.
Requirements for Growing Blackberry Fruit in India
Location / Sun
Blackberries need plenty of sunlight to grow well. Pick a spot that gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. If you are growing it in pots, move it accordingly to a place where it is exposed to the sun most of the time for the best fruits.
Soil
For best growth, avoid using regular garden soil. Instead, mix soil with equal proportions of perlite or vermiculite, along with well-rotted manure or compost. This will give it plenty of drainage and promote lush growth.
Watering
The key to growing perfect blackberries lies in watering. You will have to keep the soil slightly on the moist side all the time. However, this doesn’t mean that you end up overwatering the plant.
Water the plant when the topsoil feels a little dry to touch. Adding a 1-2 inches layer of mulch will also help to retain moisture in the growing medium for a long time.
How to Care for Blackberries?
Fertilizer
To promote and speed up the growth, use a balanced liquid fertilizer, like 10-10-10, diluted to 1/2 of its strength, once a month. This will promote lush growth and bigger size of the fruits.
Pruning
Snip away dead and damaged branches and stems from time to time. If it gets too bushy on the sides, give it a little trim so that the light reaches all parts of the plant.
Pests and Diseases
The best part about growing blackberries is the fact that they are not susceptible to pests as long as you keep them in a sunny and airy location. Just avoid spraying water on the foliage. You have to be careful about birds when the plant fruits as they love berries!
How to Harvest Blackberries?
When the berries start to get a deep maroon or black color, then it is the right time to pick them. Use a pair of shear to snip them cleanly from the plant without causing any damage to the stems.
Remember, they taste the best when eaten fresh so avoid storing them for long.
Blackberry Fruit Benefits
Blackberries are a rich source of ellagic acid, which is an antioxidant and acts as a scavenger, helping to make potential cancer-causing chemicals inactive.
These berries also contain other antioxidants that can help lower cholesterol and ward off cardiovascular diseases.