When to plant blackberries
Plant blackberries out 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost.
Your dates for blackberries
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant blackberries where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Blackberries planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant out |
|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Apr 21 to May 5 |
| Zone 3a | Apr 28 to May 12 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 19 to May 3 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 15 to 29 |
| Zone 4b | Apr 10 to 24 |
| Zone 5a | Apr 5 to 19 |
| Zone 5b | Apr 3 to 17 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 1 to 15 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 26 to Apr 9 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 19 to Apr 2 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 8 to 22 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 1 to 15 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 17 to Mar 3 |
| Zone 9a | Feb 2 to 16 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 3 to 17 |
Spring dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Where frost is rare
Blackberries handle hot, humid summers better than raspberries. In mild-winter areas plant dormant plants or root cuttings in mid to late winter and choose cultivars with low enough chill needs for the area (UF lists Osage, Ouachita, Ponca, Kiowa and the Prime-Ark series for North Florida).
| Zone | Planting months in Extension guides |
|---|---|
| Zone 9 | Jan-Mar (Texas mid-Jan to early Feb; California mid-Jan to Mar; North Florida Feb-Apr) |
| Zone 10 | Feb-Apr (Florida; UF suggests Prime-Ark Freedom for South Florida) |
Based on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Blackberries; Texas A&M AgriLife Today (Natchez Texas Superstar); UC IPM Planting Caneberries. University of Arizona Backyard Gardener #75 (Feb-Apr) applies to high-elevation northern Arizona, not low desert. No Hawaii guidance found. Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.
How to grow blackberriesYour full planting calendar
Sources
- Blackberries for the Home Garden (AG-702-11) · NC State Extension
- Growing Raspberries and Blackberries in the Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Fruit and Nut Review: Blackberries (IS1444) · Mississippi State University Extension
- Selecting Caneberries for Residential Production in Tennessee (W 895-B) · University of Tennessee Extension
- Blackberries - Gardening Solutions · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Natchez thornless blackberry named New Texas Superstar · Texas A&M AgriLife Today
- Planting Caneberries · UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California ANR
- Brambles (Backyard Gardener #75) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County
- Rubus fruticosus 'Triple Crown' (Plant Finder) · Chicago Botanic Garden
- Rubus 'Thornfree' (Plant Finder) · Chicago Botanic Garden