picked today

Oh Harold Stop That!! You're killin' me here. How much room do I need for a good blackberry patch? 6' x 6'? 10' x 10'? More?

Hey, did you ever get any llama yama? They will be heading north to Flag soon. I just got 5 bucketfuls for Dan.

Hello Mary - Our area is about 8 ft by 3 ft, but sprouts are coming up outside that area. (I hope not on the neighbor's side of the fence.) If you have a lot of room, make it as big as possible because they will send out new shoots. The new shoots are where the berries will be next year. Also be able to get to it from 2 sides. Our "back" side is up against a fence and I know there are berries back there but can't get to all of them.
No, never got any Llama stuff. Couldn't find the place, and I seldom get over that way now. But thanks anyway.

How many years does it take to get berries?

In order to pick from all sides of the berry patch, I guess you're saying to leave a 'pathway' along the back side. Is that right? If so, am guessing I would need an arbor otherwise the berry bush will just grow out until it reaches something, like a block wall, to stop it.

Or, if I lived in the country, I could plant it in the middle of a wide open field. Not an option for me, the yard is large but I can't really put a huge bush in the middle of the yard. Seems like it will need to back up against a fence

How tall does it get?

Those look yummy Harold! Like Mary said, how long to get fruit? What kind of sun are they in? I love blackberries and raspberries!

This is their 2nd Spring. They were planted in the Fall of 2008 (from the Fall rare fruit sale.) We got a few berries last year, but nothing like we're getting this year. They are 6' tall. You don't need them in the middle of the yard. Just leave enough room to be able to get on both sides. They are on an east facing block wall so they get morning and high noon sun. We don't have an arbor. Just a cheap lath trellis, tied to two cheap metal fence posts.

Wow - great harvest for the 2nd year! I think I may have to get me some this fall. Thanks Harold!

What that Loca Chica said. Gonna git me somma dose!

I put mine up against a wall that runs north-south, so the access is west-east. The west side is in my alley, so I can pick from the west side first (those ripen quicker), then harvest the east. Also, it discourages ANYONE from wanting to come over the wall should they get curious....blackberries are a GREAT defense against intruders!
My harvest was light this year, but the plants really took off after the berries set and started to ripen. I expect buckets full next year based on the growth. I think they finally got their roots deep this spring.
DD

I agree they would make a very inhospitable fence. The new growth is always grabbing at me. You said "up against a wall..." But you can pick on the alley side of that wall? Or did you mean a fence? Do you expect others to help themselves on the alley side?
Reminds me of when I was a kid in Ohio. My mother had an acre of garden across the street from our house, and across the back and one side were wild elderberries and blackberries. One day some kids came to the door selling baskets of blackberries. She asked them where they got the berries. They pointed across the street. She was beside herself, but then had to laugh about the nerve of them trying to sell her her own berries. Plenty more over there. Plus we had my grandmother's farm a few miles away where we could always get all we wanted.

Ok I finally got a plant to take and stay alive. I planted it last fall and I had a couple of berries. i got mine form the rare fruit growers sale too. How much water should these be getting Harold?

Most of the year they are on every 5 days for 10 minutes. Now with the heat they will be every 3 days for 10 minutes. Remember tho that your water pressure has a lot to do with it. Our plumber just installed a new water pressure gauge so we had to open the heads a little more and are monitoring it.

Ok thanks!!