Blackberries - the perfect backyard snack.

Who needs candy bars when you can go outside and jam plump, ripe and sweet blackberries in your mouth? No one, I say!

Now is a good time to plant some blackberries if you've got room for them in your backyard. I just put mine in today and I can't wait for that first harvest!

Blackberries are one of the few things that are easy to grow here in Central Texas. They don't get a lot of diseases, don't need a lot of water, and with judicious pruning, stay where you want them.

I went ahead and installed a simple trellis to train them to. Forgoing the more elaborate set-ups, I just put in a woven wire fence. My trusty side-kick Ed put the posts in, then helped stretch the wire. We used 8 foot treated 4x4 posts and installed 2x4's for top braces. To stretch the wire, we wrapped one end around a 2x4 and pulled! While Ed did the heavy work, I nailed in fence staples to keep the wire in place.

I created a raised bed for the berries to grow in. I live on a slight incline so I created a drainage ditch on one side to capture rainwater runoff from my up-slope neighbors. This will help keep my berries from being washed into the next county. I piled the soil into a berm and mixed in some dried leaves (also from the neighbors.) This will give my berries some extra drainage. I'll keep adding compost to improve soil texture and fertility.

I got four bare-root Rosborough blackberries. Whenever you buy plants bare-root (meaning they aren't in a pot) soak them in water first to help rehydrate the roots. You don't need to do it for long - I just put them in a bucket while I dig the holes. I planted the berries about four feet apart. They will spread out and fill in as they age. I will tie the canes to the fence wire for support and for ease of harvest when they start growing. Once planted I gave them a good soaking and then spread leaves over the ground for a mulch. I'll need to keep them watered this first year, but once established they'll only need irrigation once a week or so. I'll install a soaker hose now while the plants are small.

The Texas AgriLIFE Extension service has a great article on blackberries if you are interested in growing some for your family. Berries are a great source of vitamins and are fat-free, guiltless eating pleasure. I always intend to freeze some or make preserves, but somehow they never make it into the house. I blame the birds. Those stains on my hands and mouth? Mind your own business!