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    Home » Organic Gardening » Gardening Tips

    May 23, 2017 | By Jami

    The Ultimate Blackberry & Raspberry Guide: Grow, Harvest, Cook & Preserve Caneberries

    Your ultimate caneberry guide for growing and caring for raspberries and blackberries, my favorite varieties, plus LOTS of fresh berry recipes and ways to preserve them for winter.

    The Ultimate Caneberry Guide-growing blackberries

    This caneberry guide to blackberries and raspberries is a part of a continuing series of Ultimate Guides where you can find all kinds of growing information and delicious recipes for cooking – both fresh and preserving – a specific fruit or vegetable. See more fruit and vegetable guides here. Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them and purchase I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

    Of all the fruits you can grow easily in your backyard garden, my favorites are caneberries. Caneberries are simply a word used to describe berries that grow on long canes that need to be trellised (mostly) and include blackberries, raspberries, and crosses like Loganberries and Western Oregon's beloved Marionberry.

    Not only are blackberries and raspberries so delicious you almost can't believe it (yep, uber-fan here, but sun-ripend berries? To.die.for.), a couple of $4 plants (or free starts if you're lucky) can provide you with summer-long fruit, saving you heaps compared with the small $4-5 packages in the stores.

    As if that weren't enough (it is, I promise) all caneberries are full of antioxidants, vitamins (especially C), and are a good sources of fiber. Can I start a caneberry fan club or something? How about I just urge you to grow some? You won't be sorry, and luckily there are varieties that grow in zones from 5-10 so almost everywhere in the states can grow a caneberry or two (or ten….).

    With the basic care and pruning like you'll find in this ultimate caneberry guide, they will produce almost indefinitely for you. (How many #wins is that - I've lost count!).

    Ultimate Caneberry Guide: Plant & grow

    Ultimate Caneberry Guide-red and golden raspberries

    Types and Varieties of Raspberries & Blackberries

    All caneberries bear fruit on two-year-old wood, except the 'everbearing' (which isn't really fruiting all the time, but refers to two crops a season) and erect varieties which also fruit on first year growth. They are self-fruiting and are pollinated by bees.

    Raspberries

    Raspberries grow best in relatively cool, marine climates - in valley climates it's best to give them some afternoon shade. Note! Raspberries have invasive roots and will spread unless contained by borders or pulled in the spring.

    There are two types of raspberries:

    1. Summer-bearing red raspberries produce a large crop June through July.
    2. Fall-bearing (also called Everbearing) red varieties that produce a small crop in spring and a larger crop in the fall (they've produced in my garden until the frost killed them - it's wonderful to get fresh raspberries in late October!).

    Favorite Raspberry Varieties

    Canby: a summer-bearing, large, good flavored, firm, and juicy berry developed at Oregon State University that bears a lot in a 1-2 month period.

    Heritage: probably the top fall/everbearing raspberry in the US. It produces a small June crop with a heavier crop in fall. The canes that do not need staking, maturing at 3-8 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide.

    Queen Ann: a sweet golden raspberry that has an incredible flavor and grows on everbearing type canes.

    Fall Gold: another golden raspberry with an amazing flavor that produces in July and then late August through frost on canes that are productive and adaptable to various soils.

    There are also black raspberries (yes, they're different than blackberries), which are a little more wild growing on long canes that spread, and purple raspberries - a cross of red and black raspberries - that produce on upright canes that do not spread by root runners. I haven't grown either of these, but apparently the purple 'Royalty' is the best variety and after researching I really want to try it!

    Ultimate Caneberry Guide-how to grow blackberries and raspberries

    Blackberries

    Triple Crown: these are my hands-down favorite blackberries to grow. They are a thornless, erect variety that can produce up to 20 pounds of intensely flavored gigantic berries for months! Read my 5 Reasons To Grow Triple Crown Thornless Blackberries for more info.

    Black Satin is another thornless, erect variety to try - I love the easy of picking this type of berry!

    Marionberry: this trailing, thorny berry is the queen of the Northwest with a unique flavor and large berry. The canes can get up to 30 feet long, and root and sucker, so they do need a lot of pruning and training.

    Boysenberry: a trailing thornless berry that is another classic Westcoast caneberry. A result of crossing blackberries and raspberries. They are sweet-tart and can be grown in zones 6-9. I did have problems with a fungal growth on the canes, which weren't on any other berries planted nearby, except the wild berries along the fence line.

    Ultimate Caneberry Guide-how to grow berries

    Caneberry Guide Growing Tips

    • You can plant dormant, bare-root berries four to six weeks before your last frost, and container-grown plants as early in the spring as your garden allows.
    • Plant bushes 6 feet apart in rows that are at least 8 feet apart. Amend the soil with compost and cover with 2-4 inches of mulch. Water the plants after you put them into the ground to settle them into the soil.
    • All caneberries will benefit from a simple trellis. For long summer-bearing canes, I just string 2 wires between two end posts of 4-by-4s made from cedar or other rot-resistant wood. With "erect" canes (that can get long and fall over when heavy with fruit) make a box of 2-3 wires strung at 3 and 5 feet to help keep the fruit off the ground. This berry tee-pee I saw is also a clever option.
    • Keep all berry beds weed free - I use paper and a strong mulch like straw or wood chips. Give them 1 inch of water a week, deeply at the roots with a soaker hose or drip system. Keep consistently watered, at least 1 to 2 inches per week.
    • Fertilize in early spring for, top-dressing canes with composted manure or organic granular fertilizer for the best growth.

    Yes, you can grow caneberries in containers! Select a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of sun each day, use a large pot (at least 18x18 inches deep and wide) and be sure there is good drainage.

    In areas that experience cold winters, place the canes on the ground and cover with a heavy layer of mulch to protect from the cold. In spring after the danger of a freeze has passed, lift the canes and reattach them to your trellis.

    Read more on growing blackberries here and more on growing raspberries here. The following books were also helpful in learning how to care for my caneberries:

    • The Backyard Homestead
    • How to Grow More Vegetables (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops)
    • Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre

    Ultimate Caneberry Guide-harvesting

    Caneberry Guide: Harvest (& Prune)

    After a couple years (it usually takes 2 years to produce fruit) you should get a great harvest, with more in the following years. You may have to protect the berries from birds - try these scare tactics that worked well for me or bird netting.

    Caneberries are ready to pick when they are fully colored, plump, and fall easily from the branch. They should be picked every 2 to 4 days. Collect them in the early morning, they’ll store longer. Berries will keep in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

    Pruning Caneberries

    You can prune the tip sections of both types in spring (and even summer as needed), reducing the height of the canes to four or five feet. This will encourage bigger berries, allows for easier picking, and keeps the canes in check.

    Summer-bearing canes: once you have harvested the summer-bearing raspberries and blackberries, remove the only the spent canes during at ground level (first-year stems have green canes and second-year stems have a thin brown bark). They will not fruit again and it helps prevent disease provides for new growth.

    Fall/Everbearing, erect canes: simply cut the entire patch to the ground after they've died back completely or in early spring before you see any buds.

    Here's a thorough article on pruning raspberries and blackberries for more specifics, and here's one on pruning my favorite thornless blackberries.

    Caneberry Guide Cook & Preserve Recipes

    4 ingredient real food berry freezer jam is easy & delicious!

    Raspberry & Blackberry Preserving Recipes

    Low Sugar Canned Berry Syrup And Topping @ AOC

    Freeze all berries the same as this: How to Freeze Strawberries @ AOC

    Basic Freezer Jam @ AOC

    Chia Seed No Cook Berry Freezer Jam Recipe @ AOC

    Blackberry Jalapeno Pepper Jelly @ Southern Made Simple

    Old Fashioned Blackberry Jam @ Harbor Breeze Home

    Honey Sweetened BlackBerry Fruit Leather @ Paleo Grubs

    Low Sugar Blackberry BBQ Sauce @ The Organic Dietitian

    Slow Cooker Blackberry Jam @ The Healing Tomato

    4-Ingredient Blackberry Honey Jam @ Old World Garden Farms

    Fermented Blackberry Soda @And Here We Are

    4-Step Canned Raspberries @ The Real Farmhouse

    Homemade Raspberry Jam @ What's Cooking America

    How to Dehydrate Raspberries @ Self Reliant School

    Preserve Red Raspberry Leaves for Tea @ Grow a Good Life

    Whole Wheat Blackberry Bars

    -Cooking & Baking with Blackberries-

    Whole Wheat Blackberry Crumb Bars

    Whole Wheat Skillet Blackberry Cobbler {A Pour-in-Pan, 10-minute Prep Recipe}

    Lemon Berry Cake

    Simple, Refreshing Berry Parfaits

    Individual Berry Crisps {with Fantastic Big Crumb Topping}

    Blackberry, Bacon & Blue Cheese Salad @ Lemon Tree Dwelling

    Blackberry Balsamic Herbed Pork Tenderloin @ Your Homebased Mom

    Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad @ Closet Cooking

    Sparkling Blackberry Lemonade @ Growing Up Gabel

    Blackberry Balsamic Glaze @ The Whole Serving

    Blackberry Lime Scones @ Baker By Nature

    No Churn Blackberry Ice Cream @ The View From Great Island

    The Best Blackberry Pie @ Simple Recipes

    -Cooking & Baking with Raspberries-

    Raspberry Lemon Bars @ AOC

    Raspberry Vinaigrette @ Gather for Bread

    Raspberry, Pear & Pistachio Salad @ The Recipe Critic

    Raspberry & Coconut Breakfast Balls @ Feeding Finn

    Raspberry Overnight Oats @ Tastes of Lizzy T

    Lemon Raspberry Quick Bread @ The Idea Room

    Raspberry Muffins @ A Burst of Beautiful

    Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade @ Cooking Classy

    Raspberry Crumb Bars @ Who Needs a Cape

    Raspberry Buttercream Frosting @ Two Sisters Crafting

    Paleo, Vegan Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Tart @ Bakerita

    Raspberry Sorbet @ Le Creme de la Crumb

    Raspberry Hand Pies @ Frugal Family Home

     

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    Ultimate Blackberry-Raspberry Guide

    I hope you enjoyed this Ultimate Caneberry Guide to blackberries and raspberries and see how easy it is to grow, preserve, and cook delicious food with these incredible berries!

    Check out these other Ultimate Guides (or see them all here):

    The Ultimate Blueberry Guide for growing, harvesting, and cooking Ultimate Blueberry Guide

    The Ultimate Rhubarb Guide - Grow Harvest Cook Preserve at An Oregon Cottage Ultimate Rhubarb Guide

    Ultimate Corn Guide Ultimate Corn Guide

     

    Disclosure: affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn't change your price. Click here to read my full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. kerry taylor says

      April 09, 2018 at 9:48 pm

      Omigoodness Jami, I'm so excited. Came online tonight to brush up on triple crowns - the latest addition to our small backyard berry patch. I've been a subscriber for how long but don't ever remember salivating over this post. Hubby and I sampled our first triple crown last summer at.the local farmers market, came home and ordered 3 bushes which are now happily thriving directly to the right of our wicked marionberry. Expecting great things from both! We also raise red and golden raspberries; and blueberries. Infeel so blessed. Just yum!! Thanks for such an informative read!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        April 10, 2018 at 2:53 pm

        I'm so glad this was helpful, Kerry! You are blessed - those are all my favorite fruits, too. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Angie Rose says

      June 01, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      I really needed this guide right now. I bought a bunch of new berries to grow, and I want to give them the best conditions possible. I'm going to try growing some in containers this year, and I know your helpful guide will help me find success 🙂

      Reply
      • Jami says

        June 02, 2017 at 11:41 am

        Glad you find this helpful, Angie - have fun with those berries!!

        Reply
    3. Veronica says

      May 24, 2017 at 12:10 pm

      I really enjoy reading your blog! A quick question though... is the pruning section of this post correct? It seems to be the opposite of all the other advice I've read. Shouldn't the summer bearing canes all be mowed down after harvest but the everbearing you only cut the 2nd year canes after they've had fruit and leave the other canes? Or am I confused?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 24, 2017 at 1:09 pm

        I think you are confused, Veronica, as it's just the opposite of what you're thinking: summer-bearing (one-crop) varieties bear on 2-year-old canes, so you don't want to cut all the canes, only the ones that just finished fruiting. Everbearing (or fall) fruit on new growth so you can cut them all down and they will still produce that year. A google search will confirm this - I found this Cornell Univeristy PDF that explains more: http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/production/pdfs/rasppruning.pdf
        Hope that helps to clear it up for you!

        Reply
    4. Patti says

      May 24, 2017 at 9:34 am

      Hi Jami,

      Growing up in PA we often find wild black-raspberries which are so delicious. Now that we've cleared some space I'm thinking of adding a couple of berry bushes (canes) to the garden. Thank you for this wonderful resources on varieties and other growing information, including some great recipes. It will be a great help.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 24, 2017 at 1:11 pm

        Yes, we in the PNW have a ton of wild berries - it's a love-hate: we love picking them for a few months, but hate how they can take over a yard. 🙂 Once you try some varieties grown for flavor, you will be a convert, I think!

        Reply
    5. Sue R. says

      May 23, 2017 at 3:51 pm

      We plan to replace our oh-so-pokey marion berries next season so this is timely. Any suggestions on where to buy the Triple Crown berries you mentioned? (We're the Willamette valley area also.) Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 24, 2017 at 2:15 pm

        You can try local nurseries (I'd call around). I bought ours online from Burpees a few years ago. I did update the 5 Reasons to Grow Triple Crown blackberries with the links to other online sources, too, if you're interested.

        Reply
        • Sue R. says

          May 24, 2017 at 5:57 pm

          Thanks!

          Reply
    6. Shelly says

      May 23, 2017 at 1:51 pm

      I’m so glad you included that berries can be grown in containers. We grew our raspberries in containers for years.

      This is a great guide. Thanks for sharing so many recipes to use the berries in too.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 24, 2017 at 2:16 pm

        I find it easier to grow things in the ground, but if you don't have room (or sun in the right places!), containers are a great solution.

        Reply
    7. Diane Williams says

      May 23, 2017 at 9:10 am

      Oh my goodness! We have Blackberries growing wild here. I mean hundreds of acres of them just in our area. The birds love them and spread the seeds freely everywhere. My husband mows our fields every year to keep them back.
      Raspberries have not liked our area so well. Dave did make them a raised bed and they are thriving in it. But they are much easier to control here. It's amazing how a slightly different climate can make such a difference.
      We have not tried Marionberries or the other delicious berries you have mentioned. We might though in the future. Caneberries are so healthy and so good! Thanks for all the great tips. We freeze our caneberries and enjoy them all year. Love them!

      Reply

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