How do I propagate blackberries?

[drewskimac]

Hello all, I'm searching for information on propagating blackberries. I purchased a bottle of "ferti-lome root stimulator & plant starter solution". I mixed this, as directed, with some water. I then took some cuttings, from my mother black berry plants, and placed the stems down in this solution. Is this the correct way to do this? Should I leave them in the solution until they create roots, or put them in soil?

Thankyou in advance!

 

[lazy gardener]

Won't hurt to try your method. As I understand it, black berries are propagated from the tips of branches: Bend a branch down, and bury the tip, or a portion of the tip in soil. Pin it to the ground or place a rock over the soil to hold it in place, and keep it moist. I bet you could bury a whole section of a cane while leaving that cane attached at the base, and it would root at every node. You could then clip the individual plantlets apart. It may take a full year to work.

 

[drewskimac]

Lazy, you are 100% correct about that. That is exactly what they do. I'm wanting to try this to see if I can get multiple plants from each tip, and like you said, without it taking a full year!

 

[Naser]

Remove the cuttings from the solution and put them in the soil, but now it is autumn, and you should do that in early spring or late winter, but no harm in trying since you have the cuttings, blackberries can be propagated by cuttings or layering

 

[shadowfox]

Another way to propagate them is to dig up individual canes roots and all as the plant spreads. Dividing the plant this way has worked well for us. We have one that's been in the ground just over a year now and is doing great. It has even sent up a few new canes a foot or so away from the original plant. Those are the ones you want to dig up and transplant. This works well for raspberries too.

 

[drewskimac]

Thankyou Naser and shadow!

 

[drewskimac]

Remove the cuttings from the solution and put them in the soil, but now it is autumn, and you should do that in early spring or late winter, but no harm in trying since you have the cuttings, blackberries can be propagated by cuttings or layering

Naser, I did as you suggested and moved them to soil. Now, I am VERY new to this, so I must ask you... why do you say this should be done in the spring and late summer? Is this due to the chance of the plant producing roots, or is the idea to give it a chance to let the roots establish before winter?

 

[shadowfox]

Naser, I did as you suggested and moved them to soil. Now, I am VERY new to this, so I must ask you... why do you say this should be done in the spring and late summer? Is this due to the chance of the plant producing roots, or is the idea to give it a chance to let the roots establish before winter?

Early spring and late winter are best for rooting plants because they are just starting to grow and come out of dormancy. If part of the plant is in the ground (like the end of your cutting), that part receives hormones that will send out roots.

 

[drewskimac]

Early spring and late winter are best for rooting plants because they are just starting to grow and come out of dormancy. If part of the plant is in the ground (like the end of your cutting), that part receives hormones that will send out roots.

Great info, thanks. So, isn't that the same thing the ripping th cuttings in rooting stimulator hormone 'should' do? The canes are growing a lot right now, so I have the cuttings from pruning.

 

[Naser]

The canes are growing a lot right now

That is not necessarily a good thing, leaves are growing but no roots to supply them, that kills the cuttings, in early spring and late winter roots will grow first or at least in the same time with leaves