Blackberries and Raspberries

by Denise
(North Carolina, USA)

We bought and planted both Blackberries and Raspberries that were supposed to fruit in the first year. Not knowing (?) what we were doing really, we planted them in March - we live in North Carolina. So far, the blackberries have done very little - they're not even a foot tall yet! The raspberries have grown more - they're over a foot tall from bare root plants, but only one has any fruit that we can see. We prepared the bed with manure and compost, and we keep it well watered. What could we be doing wrong? Thanks! Denise

Doug says that he's not aware of being able to get a large fruit crop from bare-root plants in a spring planting. (except if they're fall bearing plants and then the first year is a very light harvest)

In my experience, you get the canes the first year and the fruit the second on regular bearing canes.

Short canes however in mid-summer mean that your soil conditions are not right for these plants. Maybe too much clay, not enough fertility or water --- whatever. You're going to have to step up and correct the growing condition if you want to see large canes and fruit for this fall (if fall bearing) or next spring (if regular).

I have written articles about growing raspberries on this site so do the same thing for both plants.

Good luck.