How to Grow
Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients. Control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Add mulch each year as needed.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Most new growth will come from the plant’s crown under the soil. Plants use a lot of energy in spring when growth begins, so do not let plants dry out.
Remove all wild brambles near cultivated varieties to prevent virus diseases.
Each year cut to the ground all but 5 or 6 of the most vigorous canes of each plant about 6 inches apart to improve fruit production. Prune these to about 30 inches to encourage lateral branches. They will bear fruit the following year, and should be cut to the ground after harvest.
Repeat these steps each year:
1.Select the most vigorous canes
2.Cut them back to 30 inches
3.Prune back the previous year’s laterals
4.Remove canes after laterals have borne fruit
NOTE: For Primocane Bearing Blackberries: These bear fruit twice on the same cane. Prune new shoots each year as for standard blackberries. New shoots bear fruit at the tips in fall, and further down on the cane the following spring. Cut back old canes after the second crop is harvested.
Remove and destroy old canes immediately; rake up and remove fallen leaves and fruit to help prevent fungus diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.
Blackberries may not need support when they are properly pruned. To prevent wind damage and to make harvesting easier, canes may be individually tied to two parallel wires strung between posts at either end of the row.
Tips
With exceptional fruit size, good flavor, excellent disease resistance, great heat and humidity tolerance, Prime-Ark Freedom is a perfect fit for home garden use Fruiting season is in summer: July, August or September. Fruit will not continue to ripen after picking so be sure to wait until fruit is ripe before picking. The fruit will ripen from red to black, but do not pick them as soon as they turn black, wait 3-4 days and pick when the color has a dull appearance. These will be the sweetest fruit. Pick in the morning or evening, when temperatures are coolest.
Expect to harvest at least twice a week for several weeks.
Fruit damages easily so handle with care. Store in a shallow container in the fridge as soon as possible after picking.
Wash blackberries and allow them to dry on a clean paper towel for 10-20 minutes before storing.
Fresh blackberries last a day or so, but can be frozen or used for preserves.
