Crops › Blackberry
How to grow Blackberry
in the UK
Sow November to March, plant out December, harvest August to October. About 120 days from seed to plate.
Blackberries, eh? Proper cracking fruit, these. So easy to grow on the allotment, even if you've not got loads of space. You get buckets of fruit for pies, crumbles, and freezing, you know what I mean, all without much fuss.
Sowing
Right, so for blackberries, you’re not really sowing seeds like other veg. You'll be planting bare-root canes, which is much quicker to get fruit. The best time for this is when they're dormant, usually from November right through to March, before they start shooting in spring. Dig a decent hole, give them plenty of room – about 2 to 3 metres between plants if you're putting a few in, as they proper spread out. Make sure the roots are well spread out and covered with soil, then give them a good drink.
Growing on
Once your canes are in, they’ll want something to climb on. Wires stretched between sturdy posts or even an archway work a treat, like I say in the GrowMore CookMore app notes. They're not bothered by frost once they're established, so no faffing about with hardening off. Just get 'em in the ground, give 'em a good start, and let them get on with it. Proper easy.
Looking after it
Keep them watered, especially when the fruit is swelling, mind. A good thick mulch of compost or well-rotted manure around the base in spring will keep the weeds down and feed 'em nicely. Tie in those new canes as they grow throughout the summer – it stops them getting tangled and makes picking easier. After harvest, chop out the old canes that have fruited, right down to the ground. Comfrey and marigolds nearby can help keep things happy too.
What goes wrong
To be honest, blackberries are pretty tough, but you do get the odd problem. Birds are always after those ripe berries, so you might need a bit of netting if you want to keep them all for yourself. Aphids can sometimes be a bother on the new shoots, but a quick blast with the hose usually sorts them out. Mildew can pop up in damp weather, but good air circulation helps a lot.
Harvest
You'll be picking your cracking berries from August right through to October, depending on the variety and the weather. They're ready when they're plump, black, and come off the cane easily with a gentle tug. Don't pull 'em if they resist! For a glut, they're dead easy to freeze – just spread 'em on a tray first so they don't stick together. Or, straight into a pie, mind. They'll keep in the fridge for three or four days.
Here's a tip: I always put a few old paving slabs or some cardboard around the base of my blackberry patch. Keeps the weeds down proper and gives a nice clean spot for those ripe berries to land if they drop off, stops 'em getting muddy.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Loch Ness This one’s a cracking thornless variety, proper reliable for a good harvest. Great for beginners or anyone wanting plenty of fruit without the prickles. | No club votes yet |
| Loch Tay Another fine thornless choice, known for fruiting a bit earlier than some others. If you're keen to get your first berries of the season, this is a top pick. | No club votes yet |
| Loch Maree A thornless variety that gives a cracking crop of tasty berries, known for its consistent performance. It's a good choice if you're after a reliable, easy-to-manage plant for your plot. | No club votes yet |
| Chester Thornless A really popular thornless one, known for its robust growth and consistent yields. You can't go wrong with this for a dependable supply of sweet berries. | No club votes yet |
| Oregon Thornless This variety has lovely decorative leaves as well as being thornless, so it looks nice too. Perfect if you want a productive plant that also adds a bit of beauty to the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Bedford Giant Don't let the thorns put you off, this old favourite produces really big, flavourful berries. A proper classic for those who value traditional taste and size over being prickle-free. | No club votes yet |
| Karaka Black This is a thorny type that's known for its early cropping and long, glossy fruits. If you're after something a bit different and don't mind the thorns, it's a cracking choice. | No club votes yet |
| Merton Thornless A very old and reliable thornless variety, cherished for its excellent flavour. If you want proper old-fashioned blackberry taste without the hassle of thorns, this is it. | No club votes yet |
| Triple Crown This thornless variety lives up to its name with a fantastic combination of flavour, yield, and vigour. A brilliant all-rounder for anyone wanting a generous harvest of quality berries. | No club votes yet |
| Waldo A thornless choice that's a bit more compact than some, making it good for smaller spaces. Still gives you a decent crop of tasty berries without taking over the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Navaho This thornless variety grows more upright, so it needs less tying in than some of the sprawling types. Ideal if you're after a tidier plant that's still very productive. | No club votes yet |
| Reuben This variety offers a good yield of large, firm berries, and some strains are thornless while others have thorns. It's a robust plant that's great for getting a proper late-season harvest. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Blackberry seeds
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Cook the harvest
A spectacular party dessert built on a soft, chewy meringue sheet rolled around a filling of lightly whipped cream and jewel-like blackberries, with toasted hazelnuts adding crunch throughout. The meringue cracks attractively as it rolls, which is part of its charm rather than a flaw. It looks impressive but comes together more easily than its appearance suggests.
55 min · mediumA magnificent British preserve made from an autumn hedgerow harvest of blackberries, sloes, crab apples, and rosehips, set to a glowing ruby jelly with a complex, layered flavour. Wonderful with cheese, cold meats, or spread on warm toast on a winter morning.
80 min · mediumA rich, dark chocolate ganache tart in a crisp cocoa pastry shell, topped with a crown of fresh blackberries that cut through the intense chocolate with their sharp, winey fruitiness. This combination — the bittersweet darkness of good chocolate against the tart brightness of hedgerow blackberries — is one of the most satisfying flavour contrasts in the dessert world.
50 min · mediumA crystal-clear, deep garnet jelly made by straining blackberry juice through muslin overnight to produce a pure, beautifully set preserve free from seeds and pulp. Bramble jelly has a more refined, concentrated flavour than ordinary blackberry jam and is spectacular with scones, cold roast lamb or venison. Making it is a meditative autumn ritual that rewards patience generously.
80 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: comfrey, marigold
Questions people ask
When do you sow Blackberry in the UK?
Sow Blackberry from November to March. Plant out December, after the last frost.
How long does Blackberry take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 120 days, with the harvest August to October.
Which Blackberry varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Loch Ness, Loch Tay, Loch Maree, Chester Thornless and more.
Track your Blackberry from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.