You have come to this page, because you probably want to know
how and when to prune thornless container blackberries
. So, lets have a word about pruning, how, when and why do you need to prune your blackberry bushes.How to prune thornless blackberries?
If we are pruning primocane fruiting thornless blackberries, it is recommended to prune them at the soil level. With such pruning technique we will promote new shoots to emerge, which will bear fruit the folowing year. This applies to most of container dwarf thornless blackberry plants.
If we are pruning floricane fruiting thornless blackberries, we prune them at the desired height, from where the new canes will grow, this is usually around 20-25cm (10inches) from the ground level. This applies to Baby Cakes dwarf blackberry, which is said to be primocane and floricane fruiting blackberry.
When is the best time to prune thornless blackberry plants?
The best time to prune thornless container blackberry bushes is in their resting period, so this is usually betweeen December and February.
Do not prune them right after you picked the last remaining blackberries, because the carbohydrates move from plant leaves and stems into the crown - roots in autumn, when they go in their resting period.
Prune them in their resting period, which is usually between December and February.
If you will prune your blackberry plants too late in the spring, when the buds are staring to open, you will lose some of the carbohydrates.
Why even prune thornless blackberries?
You need to prune your thornless container blackberry plants in order to promote new growth of primocanes, fruit quantity and size, higher sugar content and reduce their disease susceptibility.