Fruit Trees
Blackberries
Blackberries are productive and well suited for homeowners in North Carolina and Virginia. Breeding programs have released a number of thornless varieties that are large, taste great, and because they have no thorns, much easier to harvest than berries found in the wild. Studies have shown that blackberries help fight cancer, decrease cardiovascular disease and slow down brain aging.
One blackberry plant can easily supply up to 10 pounds of delicious berries each year. Space 5' circle or 5' apart in 5' wide rows.
Blackberry Tree Types
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Apache
An erect, thornless blackberry with large fruit and seeds. It resists orange rust and produces sweet, flavorful berries when ripe. The plant is very productive and has a six-week ripening period.
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Navajo
This easy-care variety yields sweet berries and attracts pollinators. It tolerates clay soil and returns each year with an attractive upright, clumping habit. Highly recommended for the home orchard.
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Ouachita
Excellent quality fruit, firm and sweet. Erect plant that produces on 2nd year canes. Good pest and disease resistance, excellent drought tolerance.
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Prime Ark Freedom
The first thornless primocane fruiting blackberry. A blackberry usually grows one year and doesn't fruit until the following season. Freedom fruits very early in the season, but then fruits again in the fall where the climate is suitable. Has exceptional fruit size, good flavor and the plant grows upright requiring little or no staking.
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Von
The first thornless blackberry released from North Carolina State University. The fruiting season is mid to late, with high yields. Von has large uniform fruit and great sweet fruit quality. The fruit is consistent from year to year with average fruit yields per plant around 26 pounds once the vine reached full maturity.
