evergreen blackberry

Water your Thornless Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin') twice weekly during the growing season, from late spring until mid-fall. Water deeply, giving enough water to saturate the root zone. When the top 2 in (5 cm) of soil is dry, give the plant about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. During hot days or dry spells increase the amount and frequency of watering. Water in the morning or late evening to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Thornless blackberry (Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin') plants need about 6 hours of full sun per day for best growth. They will tolerate some shade, but fruiting will be reduced with too much shade. They prefer a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. The plants should be placed in an area with good drainage. If planted in an area that tends to get soggy, supplemental planting should be done to ensure the best possible performance.

Thornless blackberries should be pruned in early spring, right after the last frost when the plant is still dormant. Prune each stem back to a length of 12-18 inches. Remove any dead or diseased canes and any canes that are thin and not producing much fruit. Also, prune out any vigorous upright canes, or cut them back to side shoots to promote branching and a more bushy growth habit. Be sure to leave a minimum of 3 to 4 canes per plant.