Wild Blackberries

laurie_binns · August 2023

A small string of wild blackberries have appeared at the end of my inner city garden, high up within a thick wall of ivy. I would love to nurture them and encourage them to grow and fruit. How do I do this? Should I trim back the surrounding plants?

Fairygirl · August 2023

They'll just do their own thing, so no real need to try and help them. If they're getting enough light, enough moisture, and the fruits are growing well, they'll ripen over time and you can pick them. If they haven't flowered this year, you'll just have to wait until they're mature enough to do that.
Just be aware that if they're happy - they'll root and spread and can become very large

I've just been picking a few from the various hedgerows here - most are still needing a week or two to be fully ripe, but there's been a few decent ones.

laurie_binns · August 2023

Thank you for you help! I think it's a pretty new plant or it's been hiding away under a thick layer of ivy for a while. They must be trailing blackberries as they are growing amongst the ivy around 6 feet high on a fence.

I guess they're doing pretty well on their own so far! ❤️
thanks again

Pete.8 · August 2023

Be careful what you wish for.
Brambles need no encouragement, they will grow and smother anything in their path.
Whenever a long cane touches the ground it will root in no time and soon there's an impenetrable thicket of brambles.
To get the best berries, remove all the canes that have had berries on them this year. Cut them out from the bottom of the plant.
The newer canes that did not fruit this year will bear berries next year.

I used to pick them on the field where I walk with my dog. There are hundreds of feet of brambles and may people picking them this time of year.
I now grow Waldo, a thornless blackberry that is well-behaved with huge berries and a far better flavour than the wild ones. I harvested 11.3Kg this year.

Fairygirl · August 2023

They'll grow up through anything and everything @laurie_binns, but they'll also root along the ground, which is why they can be very invasive in a garden setting. I stick to eating the wild ones when I'm out each day

As @Pete.8 says - be careful what you wish for!

rowlandscastle444 · August 2023

I have blackberries growing over the fence from the field beyond our garden. They have been lovely this year, and what a bonus!!

As said, they will need no encouragement. Just taming a little.
Beware birds dropping off small gifts. They may include seeds being planted in a place you don't want. I'm digging them up regularly.

But worth the hassle.

AuntyRach · August 2023

I have a ‘wild’ area right at he back of my garden where some Conifers were culled and after a few years it is thick with brambles and other ‘weeds’ (Pheasant Berry, Geraniums, grasses). I leave a patch for the wildlife but have actually chopped back a large patch today and collected a punnet of blackberries. I’m going to make a pudding with them later.

philippasmith2 · August 2023

Plenty of wild brambles in the garden here ( coastal Somerset ) but still a bit early for ripe fruit. Temps picking up a bit so another few weeks should see a decent crop - the birds are also keeping a sharp eye out too tho !

Waterbut · August 2023

Check out where the roots are. If not in the ground you might have problems if you cultivate it. Also keep an eye on your Ivy the roots grow through anything including the tarred sheets on the roof of my brick shed.

diggersjo · August 2023

We don't eat blackberries, just not for us. However I'm surprised to read many further south than us don't have ripe wild berries yet! Here (Yorkshire ) there are many and I've noticed much, much larger than other years (2-3 times), been some for the last few weeks.

Lyn · August 2023

We pick them here in the garden but I’m fussy about not eating the maggots they get in them so I put them in salt water first and skim the creatures off. Then rinse off the salt.

Wild Blackberries

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