What should I do with these blackberry plants over the winter?

[drewskimac]

Hello fellow gardeners.

I am in northwest Arkansas, what should I do with these blackberry plants over the winter? I tip rooted my thornless blackberry plants in late summer, and moved them to larger pots. They have been in the greenhouse all fall. What should I do with them during the winter, since I am planning to plant them in the spring? They are currently in the greenhouse, should I keep them in their all winter as-is? Do I need to set them out for a few cold nights to force them into dormancy? Should I go ahead and plant them even with them being completely green?

Any and all suggestions/comments are welcome and appreciated!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Sorry I can't help. but would love to know where you got thornless blackberry plants, if you don't mind. DH loves blackberries and I would love to grow some without the thorn concern as we don't have a lot of room to grow things, so everything must be in an area where people are.

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you getting killing frosts yet? I think I'd move them out of the green house if frosts are not a great issue now. The biggest issue you are going to have is that they are showing lots of tender new growth. That growth will be prone to winter kill. So, if you can get them hardened off before the weather gets very cold, that would be best. An other enemy of plants in the winter is them drying out. So, if you plant them, be sure they are well watered, but don't fertilize them. The last thing they need at this point is to be fertilized into a new growth spurt. Maybe, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Put a few out, keep a few in the green house, even move one or two into the house.

 

[lazy gardener]

UC, I have tried many times to figure out what your avatar pic is, and for the life of me, I can't figure that out. Please help me!!!

 

[Dayrel]

Hey drewskimac- Is your greenhouse heated or does it get cold over the winter? If the latter, then I'd let the seasons do their work.

Sorry I can't help. but would love to know where you got thornless blackberry plants, if you don't mind. DH loves blackberries and I would love to grow some without the thorn concern as we don't have a lot of room to grow things, so everything must be in an area where people are.

There are a number of thornless blackberry varieties out there. Here is a page of them from my favorite plant nursery: Stark Bro's. I have the Prime-Ark Freedom Primocane which I'm very happy with as they grow two crops of berries/year.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

UC, I have tried many times to figure out what your avatar pic is, and for the life of me, I can't figure that out. Please help me!!!

An alligator attacking the float on my fishing line.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

There are a number of thornless blackberry varieties out there. Here is a page of them from my favorite plant nursery: Stark Bro's. I have the Prime-Ark Freedom Primocane which I'm very happy with as they grow two crops of berries/year.

Thank you, that sounds great. Good luck with your's this winter.

 

[lazy gardener]

An alligator attacking the float on my fishing line.

Well, ok then. That explains it! Now that you've told me what I'm seeing... I can see it. Um... I'm glad we don't have gators here.

 

[Dayrel]

Thank you, that sounds great. Good luck with your's this winter.

I'm sure mine will be fine. They are two years old and have been doing well. I did pile a bunch of leaves around them for insulation after their first year as they were still comparatively small. They've grown considerably in year two.
Most blackberries and raspberries only produce on second year canes in late spring, but primocanes also produce berries late on first year canes, hence the two crops.

 

[drewskimac]

Sorry I can't help. but would love to know where you got thornless blackberry plants, if you don't mind. DH loves blackberries and I would love to grow some without the thorn concern as we don't have a lot of room to grow things, so everything must be in an area where people are.

Hello! Sorry, I can't tell you a specific company or anything like that. I actually bought them from a man who grows them locally. I would love to give you some, but youre a bit far