Berries & vines · perennial season
Blackberry
Rubus spp.
Thornless erect types (Natchez, Ouachita) are the practical Ohio backyard choice.
- When to plant in Ohio
- Plant in April
- Harvest window
- July through August
- Days to maturity
- Perennial; first real crop year two
- Spacing
- 3–5 ft on a sturdy trellis
- Light
- Full sun
How to grow it
Trellis from day one. Fruit on second-year canes: after harvest, cut those canes out and tie up the new ones. Floricane-fruiting types need winter hardiness—avoid very tender southern varieties in northern Ohio. Mulch and water while berries color.
Related berries & vines
Strawberry June-bearers fruit heavily in year two
Blueberry Perennial; light crop year two, full by year four
Raspberry Perennial; harvest year two (or fall of year one on primocane types)
Grape Perennial; first crop year three