Blackberries, a delightful summer fruit, are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. Growing blackberries in USDA zones 4 to 10 is simple, making it accessible even for novice gardeners. Blackberries are known for their prolific nature, as they tend to spread and propagate easily. By aiding this process through a technique called layering, you can cultivate baby blackberry plants. These can be transplanted to expand your blackberry collection, enhance next year's harvest, share with fruit enthusiasts, or even sell for extra income.
Blackberry Propagation: A Different Approach
If you've ever tried propagating plants by cutting, you may be surprised to learn that blackberries have a different method. Instead of the traditional cutting method, blackberries are best propagated by layering. This technique involves allowing the clone plant to grow while still attached to the parent plant before cutting it away once it has developed roots.
There are three main ways to propagate blackberries by layering: simple layering, tip layering, and air layering. Simple layering is the most common method and is suitable for plants with low branches or vines. A branch close to the ground is wounded and buried while still attached to the parent plant, allowing it to grow roots.
Tip layering, on the other hand, involves burying the tip of a branch without the need for a wound. Blackberries are particularly well-suited for tip layering due to their long branches that naturally lean over and touch the ground, allowing the tips to develop roots without any additional intervention.
If you want to quickly multiply your blackberry plants, you can speed this process along by pulling the tip of one cane down to the ground and covering it in soil. Over the next few weeks, it will develop its own root system, and you can cut the new plant away from the parent plant.
How to Tip Layer Blackberries
This propagation method works best in spring and summer when your blackberry plant is in active growth. Choose one or more healthy canes that are either near the ground or already touching the ground. Leaving the cane connected to the main plant, pull it gently down to ground level and cover it with soil. You can use potting soil or soil from the ground as long as it's good quality and nutrient-rich. To prevent the cane from accidentally coming out of its new home, it may help to dig a small hole or trench in which to bury the tip. Or, if you ultimately want your new blackberry plant to live in a pot, you can bury the tip directly in a pot of soil.
If you want to propagate blackberry plants, you can do so by taking a tip cutting from an existing plant. First, select a healthy, young shoot from the blackberry plant. Cut a 6-inch tip from the end of the shoot, making sure it has at least two sets of leaves. Remove the lower set of leaves to expose the nodes.
Once the tip is buried, keep a close eye on it. Water it frequently to encourage root growth, and make sure no squirrels or dogs are trying to dig it up. After a short time (typically two to three weeks), you should start to see roots and new growth forming. At this point, you can use a clean, sharp blade to sever the new plant from the parent plant. It's a good idea to leave the new plant in the ground for about a year to let it become established before you transplant it to a new location. Then you can care for it as you would any other blackberry plant.
