How to Raise Dewberries

Dewberries are relatives of the wild blackberry. They are vining plants that reach up to 2 feet high but can have much longer trailing vines. The black berries produced by the dewberry vine are larger than regular blackberries and can be used in pastries, preservers or eaten fresh. The dewberry is a low-maintenance plant that will thrive without interference. Providing support for the vines will make picking the fruit easier.

Shovel
Trellis or garden stakes
Twist ties
8-8-8 granular fertilizer
Organic mulch
Rake

Instructions

- 1
  Plant in a site that receives six to eight hours of sunlight daily and has well-draining soil that does not collect standing water. Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant's root ball or container, and just as deep. Do this in early spring, after last frost, using a shovel.
- 2
  Lower the dewberry into the hole and backfill with soil so the crown of the plant is 3 inches above soil level. Firm the soil by hand and water until it settles. For more than one plant, space them 5 feet apart.
- 3
  Insert a garden trellis into the soil, 3 inches from the base of the plant, at a depth of 4 to 6 inches. As the vines of the dewberry grow, wrap them around the trellis to keep them off the ground. Secure them in place with loose twist ties, if desired.
- 4
  Apply an 8-8-8 granular fertilizer to the soil around the base of the plant in the fall. Follow package directions for application instructions. Repeat the fertilizer application annually.
- 5
  Pull the vines down off the trellis in the winter. Lay them along the ground and cover them with 12 inches of organic mulch, such as straw. This protects the vines from frost. In the spring, wrap the vines back around the trellis. Rake 3 to 4 inches of the mulch around the base of the plant for weed suppression.

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