Growing blackberry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Self-fertile.
Growing it
Zones 5-9. Thornless erect types need no trellis; trailing types do. Cut spent floricanes to the ground after fruiting.
Where blackberry grows best
Hardy in zones 5-9, and it needs enough winter cold - about 200-500 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Blackberry needs roughly 200–500 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does blackberry grow in?
Blackberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
How many chill hours does blackberry need?
Roughly 200-500 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is blackberry self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Self-fertile.
Which states can grow blackberry?
Blackberry suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and 17 more, and parts of 21 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.