Prime-Ark® 45 Blackberry

Blackberries are among the easiest fruits to grow at home. Give Prime-Ark 45 full sun, well-drained soil, and a little support, and it will reward you with berries for years.

Planting

1. Unbox right away. Remove packaging, check that the soil is lightly moist, and water if it feels dry.
2. Pick a sunny spot. Choose a site with at least 6-8 hours of direct sun and soil that drains well; avoid low areas where water sits.
3. Dig the hole. Make it twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil.
4. Backfill and settle. Fill with native soil amended with compost, tamp gently, and water deeply to remove air pockets.
5. Space for airflow. Set plants 3-4 ft. apart in rows 6-8 ft. apart, and install a trellis or two-wire support to keep canes upright and fruit clean.
6. Mulch. Add 2-3 in. of shredded bark or straw around the base, keeping it an inch away from the canes.

Watering

• First season. Water deeply 2-3 times per week while roots establish, adjusting for rain and heat.
• During fruiting. Aim for about 1-2 in. of water per week; consistent moisture means plumper berries.
• Check before you pour. Stick a finger 2 in. into the soil; water when it feels dry at that depth.

Feeding

• Spring application. Apply a balanced granular fertilizer as new growth appears, following label rates.
• Second feeding. A light feeding after the first harvest supports the fall crop on primocanes.
• Compost top-dress. An inch of compost each spring improves soil and steady nutrition.

Pruning

• Remove spent canes. After floricanes finish fruiting, cut them to the ground; they will not fruit again.
• Tip new canes. Pinch primocanes at about 3-4 ft. in early summer to encourage branching and more fruiting laterals.
• Shorten laterals. Trim side branches back to 12-18 in. in late winter for easier picking and better fruit size.
• Keep it compact. Prune more aggressively if you want the plant to stay on the smaller end of its 4-8 ft. range.

Winter Care

• Mulch the crown. Add extra mulch in late fall in zones 4-5 to protect roots through hard freezes.
• Clean up. Remove fallen leaves and old canes to reduce overwintering pests and disease.

Does Prime-Ark 45 need another blackberry to produce fruit?

No. It is self-pollinating, so a single plant will set a full crop. Planting more simply gives you more berries.

When will I get my first harvest?

First-year canes typically produce a late-summer-into-fall crop, and you'll see the heaviest yield the following early summer on second-year canes.

Are the canes thorny?

Prime-Ark 45 is a thorny blackberry. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning and harvesting, and trellis the canes to keep picking comfortable.

Can I grow it in a large container?

Yes, in a 15-20 gallon container with drainage holes and a stake or small trellis. Container plants dry out faster, so check moisture often and prune to keep canes around 4 ft.

Is it deer resistant?

Not especially. Deer browse tender new blackberry growth and birds will go after ripe fruit, so fencing or netting is helpful in high-pressure areas.

How cold hardy is it?

Prime-Ark 45 is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. In zones 4-5, mulch the crown heavily in late fall for extra root protection.