Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown berries to your garden with our 10 Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug live plants. This popular cultivar, scientifically known as Rubus ‘Navaho’, is a game-changer for fruit enthusiasts. Developed by the University of Arkansas, it holds the distinction of being the world’s first thornless blackberry with a naturally upright, self-supporting habit. This innovative feature significantly reduces the need for trellising, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners. These starter plugs are ready to establish quickly, promising a bountiful harvest of exceptionally sweet and firm berries late in the summer season. The Navaho blackberry starter plug offers a low-maintenance solution for delicious fruit production, ensuring a rewarding gardening experience.

The Navaho variety is celebrated for its robust growth and consistent yield. Unlike many other blackberry types, its thornless canes make harvesting a pleasure, free from painful pricks. Each Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug is carefully cultivated to ensure a strong start in your garden, promoting healthy root development and vigorous growth. Imagine stepping into your backyard and picking succulent, ripe blackberries right from the bush. This variety is not only productive but also contributes to the aesthetic appeal of your garden with its lush green foliage and abundant fruit display. Growing your own thornless blackberry plant means enjoying fresh, organic berries that are far superior to store-bought options.

Key Benefits

Choosing the Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug offers numerous advantages for any home gardener looking to cultivate their own fruit. These plants are designed for success, providing ease of care and a generous yield:

• Thornless Canes: Enjoy hassle-free harvesting and pruning without the worry of thorns. This makes the thornless blackberry plant especially family-friendly and a joy to maintain.
• Upright Growth Habit: The naturally erect growth means less reliance on trellises, saving you time and effort in garden setup and maintenance. It’s a key feature that simplifies how to grow Navaho blackberry effectively.
• Heavy Crop Production: Expect a generous yield of berries, providing plenty for fresh eating, baking, jams, and freezing. Each Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug is genetically predisposed to be a prolific producer.
• Exceptionally Sweet & Firm Berries: The fruit is renowned for its delicious flavor profile and excellent texture, perfect for a wide range of culinary uses.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this variety requires minimal fuss, making it suitable for gardeners with busy schedules. Understanding Navaho blackberry care is straightforward.
• Disease Resistance: Developed for resilience, the Navaho variety tends to be more resistant to common blackberry diseases, ensuring healthier plants and better harvests.
• Versatile Use: Beyond fresh consumption, these berries are excellent for pies, cobblers, smoothies, and preserves, offering endless culinary possibilities.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper Navaho blackberry care is crucial for a thriving plant and abundant harvests. These plants are relatively easy to grow, but understanding their specific needs will ensure optimal performance. The Rubus ‘Navaho’ variety thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location in your garden that receives ample sunlight, away from large trees or structures that might cast too much shade. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal diseases. When planting your Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug, ensure the soil is well-draining and rich in organic matter. A pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage, and sandy soils with compost to enhance water retention.

Watering is essential, especially during dry spells and when the plant is fruiting. Aim for consistent moisture, but avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Deep watering once or twice a week is generally better than frequent shallow watering. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer, and again after the harvest to replenish nutrients. Pruning is key to maintaining plant health and productivity. Since blackberries fruit on second-year canes (floricanes), you should prune out all canes that have fruited after harvest. New canes (primocanes) will emerge and produce fruit the following year. Remove any weak, diseased, or crossing canes to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration. These plants are generally hardy in USDA zones 6-9, but providing winter protection in colder zones, such as mulching the base, can help them survive. Learning how to grow Navaho blackberry successfully involves understanding these simple yet effective practices.

Size & Details

Each order includes 10 Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug live plants, providing a strong foundation for a productive blackberry patch. These starter plugs are young, actively growing plants, typically measuring a few inches in height, ready for transplanting into your garden. They are shipped with their root systems carefully protected to ensure a successful transition. Once planted, these thornless blackberry plants will grow vigorously, reaching a mature height of approximately 3-5 feet with a similar spread. Their upright habit means they are largely self-supporting, though a light trellis or support can be beneficial in windy areas or for maximizing fruit production.

Expect your Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug plants to begin producing fruit in their second year after planting. The berries typically ripen late in the summer season, offering a delightful harvest from July through August, depending on your specific climate and growing conditions. The robust nature of the Rubus ‘Navaho’ ensures a healthy and productive plant for many years with proper care. These plants are an investment in future harvests, providing delicious, fresh berries directly from your garden. For those wondering how to grow Navaho blackberry, these starter plugs are an excellent beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug typically grows to a mature height of 3-5 feet with a similar spread. Its upright growth habit makes it a manageable size for most home gardens, making it an excellent thornless blackberry plant choice.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: These are starter plugs, which are young plants with a developed root system, typically shipped without a large pot to ensure safe and efficient transport. They are ready to be planted directly into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug is an outdoor plant, best suited for garden cultivation where it can receive full sun and natural growing conditions. It is a hardy fruit bush designed for outdoor environments.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This blackberry variety requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to produce the best fruit yields. This is a crucial aspect of successful Navaho blackberry care.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Navaho blackberry is considered a low-maintenance variety. Its thornless canes and upright growth simplify pruning and harvesting, making it a good choice for beginners learning to grow Navaho blackberry.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your 10 Navaho Blackberry Starter Plug plants will arrive healthy and carefully packaged to protect their roots during transit, ready for planting. We prioritize the safe delivery of live plants.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: Navaho blackberry plants typically begin producing fruit in their second year after planting, with a full harvest expected in subsequent years.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant these starter plugs is in early spring after the last frost, or in late fall before the ground freezes, allowing them to establish their root systems.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Navaho blackberry is hardy in USDA zones 6-9. In colder zones, providing a protective layer of mulch around the base of the plant can help it overwinter successfully.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: This plant thrives in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-6.5). Proper soil is fundamental to good Navaho blackberry care.