Blackberry Key Terms

Learn some key definitions associated with commercially growing blackberries
By Jason Wood Blackberries are a common fruit found in the American diet. Whether they are sprinkled on cereal, added to yogurt or just eaten plain as a snack, Americans consume berries about three to four times a week, according to the New York Times. Because of such large consumption, the production or growth of blackberries is a big business. Here are some key terms you might stumble across when growing blackberries commercially.

Verticillium wilt

Verticillium wilt is a fungus that attacks blackberry plants and kills them before they bear fruit. Avoid planting blackberry plants where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant have been planted in the past four years as the verticillium can often be found remaining in the soil.
Try:  Visit the website for New Mexico State University. There is a comprehensive page on growing blackberries for commercial use. Scroll down the page for "pest control."

Cercosporella rubi, double blossom

Cercosporella rubi, which is sometimes called double blossom, is another fungal pathogen that impedes the production of blackberries in some areas.
Try:  Visit  North Carolina State University for more information on how to combat cercosporella rubi and successfully grow blackberries commercially.

Biennial

Biennial refers to plants that have two life cycles of producing fruit and or flowers. Blackberries, when properly planted, are biennial.
Try:  Visit  University of Arizona for a comprehensive article on growing blackberries, including a discussion of their biennial life cycle during the year. Scroll down to the "pruning and training" section.

Trailing blackberries

Trailing blackberries refer to several cultivars of blackberries that grow along the ground in long, thin branches and are therefore "trailing." For commercial production, trailing blackberries are placed on a wire trellis several feet high so that the branches can snake along the trellis as they grow.
Try:  The University of Georgia has an article that describes trailing blackberries and how they should be planted, pruned and harvested.

Primocane-fruiting blackberry

A primocane-fruiting blackberry refers to a blackberry plant that produces fruit in its first year. Originally, commercial growers would have to wait until the second season to harvest fruit. However, since the advent of the primocane-fruiting blackberry, they can collect fruit in the first year. There are now several different cultivars of primocane-fruiting blackberries.
Try:  Visit University of Arkansas; the agriculture department developed the original primocane blackberry for use in commercial production.

Bramble

A bramble is defined as any plant in the genus robus. The genus robus can be found in the rose family. These plants are commonly thorny and produce berries or fruit. Commercial growers, magazines and other people associated with the blackberry industry often refer to it as the "bramble" industry, since many growers grow blackberries and raspberries.
Try:  Visit  Growing Magazine and view an article that discusses the commercial "bramble" market and how it might be expanded and maximized.