lablover:

I don't know who would write that on a box, since Darrow and all the blackberry varieties I know of pollinate themselves with a little insect jiggling of the blossoms. No companion variety is required.

Blackberries are biennials. The canes grow up the first season, overwinter, then grow short laterals and fruit the second season. At the same time this is happening, new canes ares growing in to fruit the following season, and on and on and on. It is a continuous process, but each cane produces for only one season. At the end of the season, the canes that fruited, which can be distinguished by their color and the old flower panicles, should be removed by pruning right down to the ground and discarded, leaving only the new canes that grew in that season.

So no, your blackberries will not fruit this year, but they should do so in 2008 if you succeed in growing strong, healthy canes this season. That is done with plenty of rich soil, compost, and mulch. When vigorous new canes grow in, top them off at about 4 feet so they do not become to heavy and fall over.

In my opinion, Darrow is not the best blackberry choice, although the berries themselves are fine. The canes have large, nasty thorns, that will penetrate even cowhide gloves. You will discover this the first time you attempt to prune out the old canes, or pick the berries. Blood will flow. I am an admirer of the thornless blackbery varieties, and grow Triple Crown and Doyle here now, though I used to grow the thorny Darrow, Cherokee, and Shawnee. Next time, ask the question before buying the plants. You could order in thornless berries with a phone call or e-mail to any number of sources.

Blackberries can be grown up to and including zone 5, but become more difficult in colder climates because the canes will not winter over without protection. So, next time you post a message, don't keep your location a secret. Climate and location matter a great deal.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thanx Don Yellman!

I read about the thorns but that was after I bought on a whim. Mostly I got it for my landlord and since it was only $3.00 it might be given away. Landlord is elderly and I do not want him dying from blood loss in the yard!

The thornless might be something for me to check out. Thanx for all your info.

If you don't mind me butting in here...

What are some thornless blackberry varieties? I grew some blueberries last year (and they're still going strong this year) but one can never have too many bush's (especially since I only have the two blueberry bushes in the first place). So i was thinking of trying my hand at blackberries as well.

Are there any good varieties for zone 9?

Thornless blackberries include:
Arapaho
Apache
Black Satin
Triple Crown
Lochness
Nightfall

And a number of others. I don't know what grows well in zone 9.

All thornless blackberries require chill during the winter in order for the floricanes to flower and set fruit properly. Kiowa is probably the lowest-chill blackberry at 300 hours, but it has gigantic thorns.

You could also try the primocane fruiting blackberries (Prime-Jim and Prime-Jan) from the University of Arkansas. Recent studies have shown that the crown of these plants do not require chill, so you'll get a crop each fall off of the primocanes. These are thorny, however.