Your first canes will only grow leaves the first year, then flower and produce fruit in their second year. Add to Cart. This week, I want to spend our time considering the last of the 2019 Mississippi Medallion selections, Sweetie Pie blackberry. They are still alive but have not grown more than a few inches. Blackberries contain many vitamins: K, C, E, A, B1, B2, and B3. ‘Sweetie Pie’ grows vigorously and produces numerous floricanes, which are thornless and have a trailing growth habit. Sweetie Pie’s availability will be limited, but don’t let that stop you from growing blackberries this year. Some plants are semi-erect, and some are trailing vines. You can easily make a trellis of your own, or you can simply grow your plants near a fence. USDA release, SWEETIE PIE is disease resistant THORNLESS variety, famous for its heat tolerance. Sweetie Pie is sweeter than most other thornless blackberry – 10-12% sugar! Sweetie Pie’s availability will be limited, but don’t let that stop you from growing blackberries this year. Sweetie Pie was tested in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas and performed remarkably well through hot and wet summers around the southeast. In addition to its excellent fruit quality, Sweetie Pie is resistant to double blossom. Blackberries are self-fertile, so there is no need to plant multiple cultivars unless desired. Blackberries, boysenberries, elderberries and raspberries (Yes, we have a raspberry for the South) are all self-pollinating, so plant one or plant 100! Humidity is very high. Sweetie Pie is a new thornless blackberry cultivar released by the USDA which is not only resistant to common Blackberry diseases but is now considered the sweetest most delicious tasting blackberry available. Vigorous plants produce many thornless floricanes that have a … They are a perennial plant, one that comes back year after year, so it really makes sense to grow your own if you can. read more . Either way, a trellis is a great idea to keep them upright and happy. Released in 1996, 'Sweetie Pie' is celebrating two decades of producing the sweetest, most succulent, delectable blackberries the south has ever seen! Otherwise, you should wait until after the last frost in spring before planting. How to Grow Blackberries - Complete Growing Guide - YouTube I remember how one of my favorite things to do in the summer was pick the wild blackberries that seemed to grow everywhere. Lows in winter are 20's and highs in summer are 100's. Spacing depends on the type of blackberry you’re growing. They do freeze well. These protect against neurological diseases, inflammation, aging, and cancer. Wait to wash them until you are ready to eat them. Sweetie Pie Blackberry Plant Another Thornless Sweetie! Like most blackberry plants, Sweetie Pie has a perennial root system but biennial canes, meaning they fruit only on the second year’s growth. You are getting a true "Sweetie Pie" VARIETY THORNLESS BLACKBERRY plant that will look EXACTLY like the one in the picture except it will be bigger because they are still growing. All of our blackberries are tissue cultured plants. Once your plants are producing berries, you will want to increase your watering. Legal | Ethics Line | Policy about commercial endorsements | DAFVM | USDA | eXtension | Legislative Update: Miss. Sweetie Pie has its ripening season in the middle of or late in the blackberry-growing period, which for most of Mississippi is mid- to late June. Feb 18, 2018 - Sweetie Pie Blackberry plant is a thornless variety that produces high yields of medium-sized berries. The fruit is best when consumed immediately or frozen, as it will not store fresh for long periods. Make sure you follow fertilization recommendations, and keep soil nutrients in the optimal ranges. Space 5'apart in 5' wide beds. Space trailing varieties 5 to 8 feet apart. Avoid clayey, poorly drained soils. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding. The information presented on this page was originally released on February 18, 2019. Sweetie Pie blackberry was bred by the USDA in Poplarville, Mississippi, so it tolerates heat very well. ‘Sweetie Pie’ is resistant to Rosette disease (double blossom), one of the most limiting factors in growing blackberries in the southern United States. It's berries are medium size, glossy, black, and with have excellent flavor due to high soluble solids content, its outstanding flavor and high sugar content make it a desirable cultivar for homeowners and U-Pick operations. The top inch of soil should be moist. Otherwise, they will not produce fruit. I've not had trouble with any pests, fungus, or issues with the plants outgrowing the bed they're in. The most suitable soils are high in organic matter and have a pH of 6.0–6.5. Raised beds with consistent irrigation produce the best results. Any new canes will produce fruit the next year, and so on. You see, I grew up agriculture-deficient in the suburbs of Detroit, and picking wild blackberries was just not an option there. Excellent to outstanding flavor in a juicy, glossy black, medium sized berry make Sweetie Pie a winner for home gardens and U-Picks. But the berry is a little soft for shipping. In addition to its excellent fruit quality, Sweetie Pie is resistant to double blossom. This thornless plant has a vigorous growth habit, which is reflected in its copious production of large, very sweet fruit. If you live somewhere with moderate winters, you can plant your blackberries in late fall. It is a trailing blackberry. ‘Sweetie Pie’ was selected at Poplarville, Mississippi in 1996. The trailing varieties need to be between 6 to 8 feet from each other. Blackberries are easily propagated, so you can make many plants out of one. Blackberry plants are perennial, but their stems, or canes, are biennial. Clip the tops of new prima canes about chest high. This means less worry about getting poked each time you need to handle the plants or pick berries. Otherwise, they will not produce fruit. Blackberries are very delicate and do not have a long shelf life. Sweetie Pie has its ripening season in the middle of or late in the blackberry-growing period, which for most of Mississippi is mid- to late June. Remember, good management reduces overall plant stress and keeps the plants productive. Once they are frozen, you can store them in a freezer bag. Blackberries like to be in full sun. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days. Harvest time is usually between late spring and early fall. It's important to prune your blackberry canes. Blackberries aren't only delicious, they are also extremely healthy. It’s when the new canes (called prima canes) have grown to about 36”-48” that you’ll want to cut the tops of new canes in order to increase productivity by encouraging side branching. It's all right to plant them where they will receive some shade as long as they receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. I grow Sweetie Pie blackberries, a great thornless variety, and here's what I've learned. Also called rosette, this is a condition caused by fungus that is problematic of some blackberry cultivars. The thorns are very strong and sharp. Blackberry Plants “Sweetie-Pie” Plants, Available on Amazon. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. It takes a lot of water to produce juicy, plump berries. Blackberries like to be in full sun. Excellent to outstanding flavor in a juicy, glossy black, medium sized berry make Sweetie Pie a winner for home gardens and U-Picks. Photos for publication (click for high resolution image): STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Math, Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Program TCALP, Mississippi County Elections: Election Prep 101, Extension Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Healthy Indoor Childcare Environments, Plant Diseases and Nematode Diagnostic Services, Hard freezes challenge Southern gardeners, Careful pruning enhances crape myrtles without harm, Use MS Medallion tomatoes in your 2021 home gardens, Independent garden centers help intentional gardeners, Purple Coneflowers for the Mississippi Gardener, Homegrown Flower, Herb and Vegetable Transplants, Mississippi State Trial Garden Potting Soil Recipe, Legislative Update: Miss.