Blackberry Growth Stages: What to Expect Year-by-Year
One of the most common questions from new blackberry growers is simply: "When will I get berries?" The answer depends on what variety you're growing and how you manage your plants, but understanding the blackberry growth cycle makes the timeline much clearer.
Unlike annual vegetables that produce in a single season, blackberries operate on a biennial cane cycle with perennial roots. This means the crown lives for many years, but individual canes live for only two seasons. Once you understand this pattern, blackberry care becomes intuitive.
The Biennial Cane Cycle: Blackberry Basics
According to NC State Extension, the crown of blackberry plants is perennial (lives for many years), while the canes are biennial (two-year lifecycle).
Here's how it works:
Year 1 - Primocane Stage: A new cane emerges from the crown or roots. This first-year cane is called a primocane. It grows vigorously, developing leaves and height, but on traditional varieties, it doesn't produce fruit. The primocane's job is to establish itself and prepare for next year.
Year 2 - Floricane Stage: That same cane overwinters and returns for a second year. Now it's called a floricane. In spring, it develops lateral branches, flowers, and produces fruit. After harvest, the floricane dies and should be removed.
Meanwhile, new primocanes are growing from the crown. These will be next year's floricanes.
Biology Insights describes this as "perennial roots, biennial canes" and notes it's central to understanding blackberry development.
Blackberry Growth Timeline: Year by Year (Floricane Varieties)
Expect fruit in Year 1 (fall, from primocanes) and two crops per year starting Year 2 (summer floricane + fall primocane).
The Exception: Primocane-Fruiting Varieties
Some modern varieties (like Prime-Ark Freedom) produce fruit on first-year primocanes, typically in late summer or fall. According to University of Maryland Extension, these primocane-fruiting cultivars can also produce a second crop on floricanes the following summer, extending the harvest season.
This changes the timeline significantly. You can get fruit the first year with primocane varieties.
Year 1: The Establishment Year
The first year after planting is all about roots and structure. Don't expect fruit from traditional varieties, and even primocane types will produce minimally.
What Happens
According to Oklahoma State Extension, during the first growing season after planting, erect blackberry plants often produce prostrate to semi-erect canes. Erect canes will be produced in subsequent years.
Spring (March through May):
Planted canes break dormancy
New growth emerges from buds
Root system begins establishing
Primocanes start growing from the crown
Summer (June through August):
Primocanes grow rapidly, reaching 3 to 6 feet depending on variety
Focus is on vegetative growth
Trailing varieties may "flop" once canes reach about 3 feet
Plants may attempt to flower (remove these flowers)
Fall (September through November):
Growth slows as temperatures cool
Canes harden off for winter
Energy moves to root system storage
What to Expect
The Crunchy Baker provides this realistic progression:
"Year 1: Three blackberry canes, very small, no trellising needed yet. We pulled any blooms from each plant all season."
According to Stark Bro's, if blackberries try to bloom and set fruit the first year, you should pinch these flowers off. This allows new plants to devote energy to becoming established so they can support bigger, better crops for years to come.
Year 1 Care
Don't prune first-year erect canes. According to Arbor Day Foundation, first year erect canes should be left unpruned.
Do summer tip primocanes on erect/semi-erect types once they reach 3 to 4 feet (in subsequent years, but some growers start year one).
Water consistently. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners emphasizes keeping shallow-rooted plants well watered throughout their first season, at least 1 inch per week.
Fertilize lightly. Oklahoma State Extension notes that very little commercial fertilizer is needed during the first year of establishment.
Year 2: First Fruit (Limited)
Year two is when things get exciting. Those primocanes from year one are now floricanes, and they'll produce your first berries.
What Happens
Late Winter/Early Spring:
Dormant pruning: shorten laterals, thin canes
Train floricanes to trellis
New primocanes begin emerging
Spring:
Floricanes leaf out and develop fruiting laterals
Flower buds form on lateral branches
Flowering occurs (typically late spring in Santa Cruz County)
Summer:
Fruit develops and ripens
Harvest period begins (varies by variety)
New primocanes grow vigorously
Remove spent floricanes after harvest
According to NC State Extension, the number of days for fruit to develop from full bloom to ripe fruit varies by cultivar and region, ranging from 35 to 60 days.
What to Expect
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners sets realistic expectations:
"A partial crop of berries can be expected in the second year and a full crop in the third."
The Crunchy Baker describes year two:
"The blackberry plants are lifted about four feet by my trellises, and producing about a cup of berries per day. And there are a lot more than three canes now."
Year 2 Yields
Expect a modest harvest. The plant is still establishing, and you'll have relatively few floricanes. This is normal. Think of year two as a preview of what's to come.
For erect blackberries, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners notes mature plants yield 3 to 6 pounds per plant. Year two will be significantly less, perhaps 1 to 2 pounds.
Year 2 Care
Prune properly: Remove spent floricanes after harvest
Summer tip new primocanes: When they reach 3 to 4 feet
Fertilize at bloom and after harvest: Oklahoma State Extension recommends applying fertilizer at bloom time and again after fruit harvest
Water during fruit development: Critical for berry size and quality
Year 3: Approaching Full Production
By year three, your blackberry patch starts to feel like a real berry garden. You'll have more floricanes, stronger canes, and significantly more fruit.
What Happens
The cycle continues: last year's primocanes are now floricanes, and the plant produces more primocanes than ever. The root system is well established, supporting vigorous growth.
What to Expect
The Crunchy Baker describes year three:
"Huge, woody canes that are now trellised on metal wire and stakes, with canes stretching 6 feet or more."
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners confirms:
"A full crop in the third year."
Year 3 Yields
Expect yields approaching mature plant levels:
Erect varieties: 3 to 6 pounds per plant
Trailing varieties: Up to 20 pounds per plant (according to Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners)
You'll also notice the patch starting to spread. Suckers may appear outside the original planting area. Decide whether to remove these or allow limited expansion.
Year 3 Care
Thin canes to maintain 3 to 4 canes per foot of row
Stay on top of summer tipping
Consider pest and disease monitoring as the planting matures
Maintain good air circulation through proper pruning
Years 4 through 10: Peak Production
Once established, blackberry plants reach their productive prime. With proper care, expect consistent harvests for many years.
What to Expect
According to Oklahoma State Extension:
"Properly maintained, irrigated plantings of good varieties may produce crops for 10 years or more."
And at full production:
"Well-established plants can produce up to 20,000 pounds per acre."
For home gardeners, that translates to abundant harvests from just a few plants.
Mature Plant Yields
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners provides these yield expectations for mature plants:
Erect blackberries: 3 to 6 pounds per plant
Trailing varieties: Up to 20 pounds per plant
The Old Farmer's Almanac notes that trailing blackberries are among the highest-yielding berry plants when properly trellised.
Signs of Healthy Mature Plants
Vigorous primocane production each year
Strong, upright canes (erect types) or long, healthy canes (trailing types)
Consistent fruit production
Minimal disease pressure
Controlled spread (not taking over the garden)
Maintaining Production
Annual pruning keeps plants productive and manageable
Regular fertilization at bloom and after harvest
Consistent watering especially during fruit development
Disease monitoring and removal of affected canes
Periodic soil testing to maintain proper pH and fertility
The Seven Growth Stages Within Each Season
Beyond the year-by-year timeline, Biology Insights identifies seven key stages blackberries pass through each growing season:
The Blackberry Growth Cycle: 7 Stages Each Season
How to Identify Primocanes vs Floricanes
- Green, flexible canes
- 5 leaflets per leaf
- Smooth, soft texture
- No flowers/fruit (usually)
- Keep these! They fruit next year
- Gray/brown, woody canes
- 3 leaflets per leaf
- Rough, bark-like texture
- Flowers and fruit appear
- Remove after fruiting
1. Dormancy (Winter)
Plants are visually inactive. Leaves may drop (depending on variety). Energy is stored in roots and crown. Cold acclimation occurs. According to NC State Extension, dormant plants can survive the coldest parts of winter if adapted to the area and properly acclimated.
2. Bud Break (Late Winter/Early Spring)
As temperatures rise and days lengthen, buds begin swelling. NC State Extension describes three stages of bud development: delayed dormant, popcorn, and full bloom.
3. Vegetative Growth (Spring)
New primocanes emerge from the crown. Floricanes leaf out and develop lateral branches. According to Greg App, canes can grow 3 to 6 feet in a single growing season.
4. Flowering (Late Spring)
White to pink flowers appear on floricanes. Greg App notes the flowering stage lasts about 2 to 4 weeks. Bees and other pollinators transfer pollen, though blackberries are largely self-pollinating.
5. Fruit Development (Early Summer)
After pollination, flowers transform into green berries. The receptacle swells to form drupelets. Berries gradually increase in size over several weeks.
6. Ripening (Summer)
Berries transition through color stages:
Green (immature)
Red (still unripe)
Black (ripe)
Dull black and slightly soft (peak ripeness)
According to SF Gate Home Guides, letting berries stay on the plant a few days after turning black makes them sweeter and softer.
7. Post-Harvest/Senescence (Late Summer/Fall)
Floricanes that bore fruit begin dying back. Primocanes mature and harden. The plant shifts energy to roots before dormancy.
Growth Timeline for Primocane-Fruiting Varieties
If you're growing Prime-Ark Freedom or other primocane-fruiting types, your timeline is different.
Year 1
Spring/Summer: Primocanes grow vigorously Late Summer/Fall: Primocanes flower and fruit at their tips Result: You get berries the first year (though yields are modest)
Year 2
Summer: Floricanes (last year's primocanes) produce early summer crop Late Summer/Fall: New primocanes produce fall crop Result: Two harvests per year
According to University of Maryland Extension:
"By their second year of establishment, the floricanes will set fruit in the summer and new primocane stems will set fruit in the fall. This will extend your fresh fruit season."
Simplified Management Option
You can also manage primocane varieties by cutting all canes to the ground each winter. This eliminates the floricane crop but simplifies care and produces a single fall harvest on primocanes.
What If My Plants Aren't Progressing Normally?
Sometimes plants don't develop as expected. Here's what might be happening:
Slow Growth in Year 1
Possible causes:
Planting too late in season
Insufficient water
Poor soil drainage
Planting too deep
Root damage during planting
Solution: Ensure consistent moisture, proper planting depth, and good drainage. Be patient; some plants establish slowly.
No Fruit in Year 2
Possible causes:
Removed the wrong canes (cut out floricanes instead of primocanes)
Winter damage to flower buds
Insufficient chilling hours
Birds or animals eating fruit
Solution: Learn to identify primocanes vs floricanes. Protect plants from extreme cold. Install bird netting during ripening.
Declining Production in Later Years
Possible causes:
Disease buildup
Soil depletion
Poor pruning (not removing old floricanes)
Plants becoming root-bound (containers)
Solution: Maintain good sanitation, fertilize regularly, prune properly, and consider replacing very old plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will my blackberries first produce fruit?
For traditional floricane varieties, expect a partial crop in year two and full production by year three. Primocane-fruiting varieties can produce a small fall crop in year one.
Should I let blackberries fruit the first year?
For most varieties, no. Stark Bro's recommends pinching off flowers in year one so plants can establish strong roots for better future production.
How long do blackberry plants live?
The crown and root system are perennial and can live 10 to 15 years or more with proper care. Individual canes are biennial, living only two years.
How many pounds of berries can I expect?
At maturity, erect blackberries yield 3 to 6 pounds per plant. Trailing varieties can produce up to 20 pounds per plant. Year two yields will be significantly lower.
Why do my canes look different from each other?
You're seeing primocanes and floricanes. Primocanes (first-year) are green and flexible. Floricanes (second-year) are woody and gray/brown. According to Clemson Extension, primocanes have five leaflets while floricanes have three.
Can I speed up production?
Choose primocane-fruiting varieties for first-year fruit. Otherwise, focus on good establishment practices: proper watering, fertility, and weed control to maximize growth each year.
Downloadable Guides
For help at each growth stage, download these PDF guides:
Seasonal Garden Tasks Checklist: When to prune, tip, and harvest
Garden Troubleshooting Guide: Solutions for common problems
Understanding blackberry growth stages transforms you from a hopeful planter to a confident grower. The biennial cane cycle means you're always managing two generations of canes: this year's primocanes (next year's fruit) and last year's floricanes (this year's fruit).
Year one is about patience and establishment. Year two brings your first taste of success. By year three, you're harvesting real quantities. And from years four through ten and beyond, you'll enjoy abundant production if you maintain good pruning, watering, and fertility practices.
The key insight: every primocane you nurture this year becomes a floricane that rewards you next year. That long-term perspective makes blackberry growing incredibly satisfying.
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