Do Thornless Blackberries Grow Well in Michigan?

Description

• Thornless blackberry is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 10 feet in height. It has an erect, arching growth habit. The shrub bears flowers in clusters of up to 25, and produces an aggregate fruit.

Cultivars

• Popular cultivars of thornless blackberry for Michigan include Black Satin, which produces a tart berry good for jams, jellies and pies, and Navaho, which bears a juicy, sweet berry good eaten fresh or used in pies and jams.

Harvest

• Thornless blackberries ripening dates vary, depending on variety, but the fruits are generally ready to harvest in Michigan in late summer. Navaho, for instance, ripens around the first of August. Harvest blackberries by hand, and pick them once or twice a week during the harvest period.