Primacane Blackberries

Hello, I planted Prime Ark Freedom Blackberries couple years ago, we are getting great berries on the Primacanes, but after winter here in central Indiana I'm not getting any Floracanes to produce 2nd year berries. Would these wintering canes freeze out??

Hi Mark, welcome to Permies!

It's possible the canes may be freezing. After reading a little about that variety, the prime ark freedom appears to have low chill requirements for fruiting, and it seems that in some cases a warm spell during winter can cause the canes to wake up just to then be nipped by the return of freezing weather. I don't believe this will ruin the canes, it may just mean no fruit for that following season.

welcome mark! you may need to protect the canes in the winter like i do, to get a florocane crop. in late fall, once they have gone dormant, lay your canes gently down.  pin them down w/ with wire fabric staples then cover with 12in. of straw. cover that with landscape fabiric or burlap. staple down also.in early spring , when the willows are waking up, unbury them and prune out any damaged canes. fertilize. im much colder than you so if i can over winter them here so should you. good luck!

Thanks for the info, I will try laying them down over winter. I'm so glad I came across this site, so much knowledge and information to read through.