Well, let me tell ya ’bout them blackberries and how they’re picky ’bout the weather, just like us old folks with our achin’ bones.
Blackberry Temperature Likes and Dislikes
You see, blackberries, they ain’t like them tough weeds that grow anywhere. They need things just right, especially when it comes to how hot or cold it is. I heard tell they like it best when it’s kinda warm, you know, like between 70°F and 85°F (that’s like 21°C to 29°C for them city folks). That’s when they grow big and strong, and give ya lots of them juicy berries.
But, just like us, some blackberries are tougher than others. Some can handle a bit more cold, some like it a bit warmer. It’s all in their nature, I reckon.
- Warm is Good: For them blackberries to grow real good, they like it warm, around 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, or 18 to 29 degrees Celsius if you’re fancy. Daytime, they like it a bit hotter, maybe 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 29 degrees Celsius), and then a bit cooler at night. That’s how they get them berries sweet and juicy.
- Too Hot is Bad: If it gets too hot, them berries, they just cook right on the vine. You’ll see ’em wilting and their leaves turning all brown and crispy. Not a pretty sight, I tell ya.
- Cold Can Be Tricky: Now, blackberries need a bit of cold to make them berries, but not too much. They say below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s about 7 degrees Celsius) is good for settin’ fruit, but if it gets down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-9 degrees Celsius), well, that’s just too cold, and they’ll freeze.
So, how do you keep them blackberries happy? Well, you gotta watch the weather, that’s for sure. If it’s gettin’ too hot, you might need to give ’em some shade, like puttin’ up a cloth or somethin’. And if it’s gettin’ too cold, well, you can put down some mulch, like hay or somethin’, to keep ’em warm.
Different Kinds of Blackberries
Now, there’s all sorts of blackberries out there, each one a little different. Some can handle the cold better than others. Some can even grow in them places way up north where it gets real cold in the winter. And some like it warmer, down south where the sun shines bright.
I heard tell of one called Navaho, and they say it’s real good at takin’ the heat. So, if you live in a place where it gets real hot, that might be the one for you.
Winter and Chill Hours
Blackberries need a certain amount of cold in the winter, what they call “chill hours,” to make them berries. They gotta spend some time below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius), or they won’t be able to make no berries at all. It’s like they need a good long nap before they can wake up and get to work.
Hardiness Zones: Where Blackberries Grow Best
Most of them blackberries grow in what they call USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. That just means they can handle the winters in those places. But there are some that can grow in colder places and some that can grow in warmer places, too. It all depends on the kind of blackberry you got.
Keeping Them Blackberries Just Right
So, the long and short of it is, you gotta keep them blackberries at the right temperature if you want a good crop. Not too hot, not too cold, just right, like Goldilocks and her porridge. Watch the weather, give ’em shade when they need it, and keep ’em warm when it’s cold. And if you do all that, you’ll be rewarded with a whole mess of them sweet, juicy blackberries, perfect for makin’ pies, jams, or just eatin’ right off the vine.
And that’s all I gotta say ’bout that. Now go on and grow yourself some blackberries!
