4 ms·
Would a blackberry bush live in my yard with just rainfall? Or is it to dry in the bay area?
by joshu 11y ago
Would a blackberry bush live in my yard with just rainfall? Or is it to dry in the bay area?
- dang 11y agoThe north side of Bernal Hill above the Mission in SF has a sprawling blackberry patch. It thrives there. It's quite wonderful.
- amichelony 11y agoI've grown several blackberry varieties in the bay area and currently have a thornless loganberry, which I highly recommend. Blackberry is one of the easiest plants to grow and it won't be easy to eradicate it once it's settled. However, I wouldn't depend on rainfall if I wanted a lot of berries.
- tomkinstinch 11y agoBlackberries are hardy, and will grow well in many climates that get rain. You may be able to grow them in the Bay Area, with limited productivity. Of course you'd have better luck with some irrigation, or at the edge of your yard if you use sprinklers. They can spread broadly though, so much so that in certain areas they can be invasive (Portland, OR, for example). Planting blackberries is not something to enter into lightly since they're a pain to remove (quite literally; there are thorns). Blueberries on the other hand are more difficult: they require bright (but not necessarily direct) light, ample rainfall, acidic soil (pH 4-5), and limited competition. We frequently have to cut away grape vines that grow on bushes and block sunlight. Birds, bears, and other woodland creatures also love blueberries so you have to beat them to the bushes.