Hey GF gang, it has been a few years since I have posted but I am back today to share an observation from growing thornless blackberries in the south.
My main observation when growing on top red clay is that depth and volume of good soil the blackberry plants are grown in can really make a difference. The 1st picture is a row of ponca grown in about a foot of mounded up good soil with with a few inches of pine bark fines as the top layer. The 2nd picture is a row of Osage grown in around 5" of mounded up good soil. Both rows have gotten very little supplemental watering or fertilizer.
The ponca are much healthier, productive plants which I can only attribute to the depth of good soil.
I am also finding the ponca’s to be sweeter as advertised.
Chris
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@Chris_in_GA welcome back and thanks for sharing. A stark contrast indeed. You can definitely see darker green and more bushiness in the Ponca row.
What is the composition of the “good soil”?
Cultivar differences could be another reason. I’ve found Ponca is vigorous in comparison to Arapahoe when grown in pots under the same conditions, soil, and watering schedule.
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Beautiful blackberries, Chris! How long have you had them? I love how you are growing them. Very neat!
Good point Richard. I also have a row of Prime Ark Freedom which seems to be a very vigorous variety. They are also grown in about 5" of good soil but seem happier and healthier than the Osage type.
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Hawkhill, I installed these rows 3 years ago, it was a lot of work. My main goal was low maintenance berry growing. So far, so good, I hope to get 5 years out of the fabric before I will need to replace it.
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