I live in the Northeast of the United States for reference, zone 7a.
Got 3 bushes by late May 2024 from Burpee (Prime-Ark Traveller, Prime-Ark 45®, and Blackberry, Prime-Ark Freedom). Transplanted them into a mix of coco coir and all purpose Back to the Roots All-Purpose Potting Soil (2 parts coco 3 parts potting soil) with a mix of powdered hydroponic formula (General Hydroponics MaxiGro) for growth. All three plants were put in 10 gallon grow bags.
The soil was kept acidic and watered every 3-5 days (or whenever the first inch or so of soil dried out). The soil was given nutrients 3 times, always on the conservative side to avoid nutrient burn. By late September/early October the thorny bush even fruited a single blackberry.
In mid-to-late November all three bushes were put into a regular garage (unheated) for the winter. No light, no water, just cold.
I took the plants out into the sun on the morning of March 11th and gave each grow bag 2 quarts of tap water.
What are the chances the bushes will recover? The leaves are dried out, but they still have some green on them in certain places (from the newer branches that grew in by mid/late Fall), I don’t know if this is because certain branches are old or because they are dead (or both).
Hi @Planter1, Your plants should break dormancy just fine. It just takes longer for some varieties than others. Keep an eye out for swelling buds and any small tufts of green, including new growth coming from the base of the plant. All of my blackberry, raspberry and blueberry plants from the previous season in zone 6b typically show signs of breaking dormancy by early April, so I would suggest giving it another 2-4 weeks.
They will recover. The canes that came out last year will fruit this year. The only concern would be the root crown drying out. How many canes grew this year?
I would leave them outside in winter. I had raspberries and blackberries in grow bags and I’m in zone 7.
Okay, thanks! Will the dead/dying leaves cause issues down the line? Some of them are crispy to the touch all throughout, while others are alive in the center while the middle and edges are dried out. Should I prune these leaves to keep the bushes healthy?
Not a lot. The plant(s) seemed relatively young when I purchased them last year, maybe less than 3 years old. Small and only the thorny blackberry bush produced one flower and one berry in late September.
The Prime Ark Traveler bush (756) in particular isn’t looking so hot which is why I ask. It’s always lagged behind the other two, even before they were brought in during winter.
It could be just the first year growth. If the roots were small it may take a while for them to get large enough to really grow well.
I’m surprised by the green leaves on top. Do those come out recently?
Were they getting sun in the garage?
I’d only prune anything dead. I’ve seen occasional tips die off. Maybe a few inches or so. If there is green underneath the bark/outer layer it is alive.
You can prune off the dead leaves and stems if you like on the floricanes (2nd year cane) but be careful not to prune off the new buds near the cane. Leaving the dead leaves on the new floricanes is fine. You’ll be pruning these floricanes canes to the ground next year around this time at the latest.
No sun or water, but even back in October the Traveler wasn’t the best of the trio growth or expansion wise. After a winter of no sun, water, or nutrients it’s even worse. I see very few buds on either stem compared to the other two, and the leaves are dry to the touch. Can the bush grow leaves from nothing as long as it’s getting light, water, and nutrients?
They put out new leaves every year. I was wondering about the top green leafs because it seems like it has been growing still. Here is a blackberry I have currently. The green buds are getting ready. There is an old dry leaf from last year that will fall off. It really is just the canes during the winter.
I mentioned on your reddit post that they all look healthy, I think you’ll be just fine!
If you don’t like the look of the dead leaves from winter you can cut them off - but as long as you see new growth coming out of the cane then that cane survived
