Next time you're out on a hike look out for blackberry bushes. They're simple to spot when you know what to look for. Their most individual trait is the thorns that reach from their branches. It is useful to remember where you have seen the blackberry bushes so that you are able to pick the tasty fruits that they produce. The fruits normally mature on the plants in the late summer. They come into flower with sweet-smelling white flowers every spring. Blackberry bushes are located all over America and most additional countries with a suitable climate. They produce the best berries when situated in the full sun, although you can come across them located in shady areas also.
Blackberry bushes can normally be found near raspberry bushes in the wild. Although wild blackberry bushes produce smaller berries than the blackberry bushes you plant from a nursery, the wild berries tend to be tastier. It is important to watch out for poison ivy which frequently grows in the same areas as blackberry bushes. Poison Ivy rash is the cost that many berry pickers pay when trying to harvest the berries.
The location of natural blackberry bushes were marked and remembered by Native Americans in order that they might harvest them every year. They used the berries to eat, but they also used them to dye animal hides to create a richer, darker color.
The first settlers used blackberries to cure many ailments. They were particularly useful for respiratory ailments along with coughing. The fruit is also used to produce a rich colored, sweet wine by lots of people that like to produce home made wines. The general favorite use for these sweet, delicious berries, though, is blackberry jam. They also produce a delicious pie, if you don't mind the seeds.
If you are thinking of planting blackberry bushes in your yard it is wisest to plant them along the parameter where there isn't a lot of people traffic. This is to avoid getting scratched by the sharp, long thorns. The bushes must be cut back after they have finished producing fruit. They need to be trimmed back to about 18 inches above the ground. This is done to prevent them from growing the tall runners that will usually have more thorns than berries on them.
If you're going to plant a number of bushes make sure you allow enough space so that you do not get so scratched when picking the fruits. However close the bushes are to each other picking blackberries is a job that requires wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Blackberry bushes also have an extensive life span so you'll want to consider this when selecting a location to place them.
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Visit the grow a vegetable garden web site for practical tips concerning growing veg, from growing a kitchen herb garden, to planning a raised bed vegetable garden . Plus all the latest news about this year's vegetable and fruit patch trends.
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