Overview

Introducing the Prime Ark Horizon blackberry starter plugs, an excellent choice for home gardeners seeking a prolific and reliable fruit producer. This exceptional variety, developed by the University of Arkansas, is celebrated for its unique primocane-fruiting (everbearing) characteristic, meaning you can enjoy two distinct harvests in a single season. These live plants arrive as robust starter plugs, ready to establish quickly in your garden. The Prime Ark Horizon blackberry is renowned for its large, firm, and flavorful berries, making it a favorite for fresh eating, jams, and desserts. Whether you’re an experienced grower or just starting your edible garden, these plants promise a rewarding cultivation experience with abundant, high-quality fruit.

The ‘Prime-Ark Horizon’ is a standout among blackberry varieties, offering an extended harvest season unlike many traditional types. Its ability to produce fruit on both new canes (primocanes) in the late season and on overwintered canes (floricane) in the summer ensures a continuous supply of delicious fruit. This makes the everbearing blackberry plant a highly desirable addition to any fruit garden, maximizing your yield and enjoyment throughout the growing season.

Key Benefits

The Prime Ark Horizon blackberry offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, transforming your outdoor space into a productive and enjoyable edible landscape. Its unique growing habits and fruit quality set it apart:

• Extended Harvest Season: Enjoy a prolonged fruiting period with both summer floricane crops and late-season primocane crops, providing a continuous supply of fresh blackberries from summer into fall. This everbearing trait significantly increases your overall yield compared to single-crop varieties.
• High Yielding: These plants are bred for impressive productivity, ensuring a generous bounty of fruit from each plant, perfect for fresh consumption, baking, or preserving.
• Large, Firm Berries: The ‘Prime-Ark Horizon’ produces substantial berries, averaging 7.8g, with many individual fruits reaching 10-15g. Their firm texture makes them excellent for shipping, storage, and various culinary applications.
• Delicious Flavor: These blackberries boast a rich, sweet flavor profile, making them a delightful treat straight from the bush or incorporated into your favorite recipes. The juicy pulp and balanced sweetness are a true garden delight.
• Adaptable Growth: While particularly successful in the mid to upper South, this variety thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9, demonstrating good adaptability to various climates within this range.
• Excellent for Fresh Eating & Preserving: The superior quality and size of the large blackberry make it ideal for eating fresh, as well as for making jams, jellies, pies, and other delicious preserves.
• Robust Starter Plugs: You will receive healthy, established starter plugs, ensuring a strong beginning for your blackberry plants and minimizing transplant shock.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your Prime Ark Horizon blackberry thrives and produces abundant fruit, proper care and attention are essential. These plants need a sunny location with well-draining soil to perform their best. Choose a site that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Blackberries prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.0). Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and aeration. Plant your starter plugs at the same depth they were in their containers, spacing them about 3-5 feet apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth.

Consistent watering is crucial, especially during establishment and fruit development. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering if possible, as this can encourage fungal diseases. Mulching around the base of the plants with 2-4 inches of organic material will help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer, and again after the first harvest for the primocane crop. Pruning is key for an everbearing blackberry plant; remove spent floricanes after their summer harvest and thin primocanes in late winter to encourage new growth and fruit production. Protect young plants from extreme winter cold in the lower end of their hardiness range.

Monitor your plants for common pests like aphids or spider mites and diseases such as rust. Good air circulation and proper sanitation can prevent many issues. Companion planting with borage or tansy can help deter some pests. With consistent care, your Rubus ‘Horizon’ plants will reward you with a magnificent harvest of delicious fruit.

Size & Details

Each order includes 3 Prime Ark Horizon blackberry starter plugs, providing a strong foundation for your fruit garden. These live plants are shipped as robust, well-rooted plugs, ensuring they are ready for planting upon arrival. While specific dimensions can vary, starter plugs are typically young plants with an established root system, ready to be transplanted into your garden or larger pots. Expected mature height for this vigorous variety can range from 4-6 feet, with a similar spread, depending on pruning and growing conditions. They are known for their strong, upright growth habit, though support may be beneficial as they become laden with fruit. The ‘Prime-Ark Horizon’ is a relatively fast grower, and with proper care, you can anticipate your first primocane crop in the first year after planting. These plants are designed to establish quickly, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of fresh, homegrown fruit sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Prime Ark Horizon blackberry plants get? A: With proper care and pruning, Prime Ark Horizon blackberry plants can reach a mature height of 4-6 feet tall and develop a similar spread. Their upright growth makes them easy to manage in most garden settings.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Prime Ark Horizon blackberry is an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds or large containers where it can receive full sun. It is not recommended for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does the everbearing blackberry plant need? A: These blackberry plants require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the best fruit yields and ensure healthy growth. Full sun exposure is ideal for optimal fruiting.
• Q: Is this blackberry plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the ‘Prime-Ark Horizon’ is considered relatively easy to care for, especially for gardeners in its recommended USDA zones. Key tasks include consistent watering, annual fertilization, and strategic pruning.
• Q: What condition will the blackberry starter plugs arrive in? A: Your blackberry starter plug will arrive as healthy, well-rooted live plants, carefully packaged to ensure their safe transit. They will be ready for immediate planting upon delivery.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Prime Ark Horizon blackberry? A: The best time to plant Prime Ark Horizon blackberry starter plugs is in early spring after the last threat of frost, allowing them ample time to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: Will this large blackberry variety survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Prime-Ark Horizon’ is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9. In Zone 6, some winter protection might be beneficial, especially for young plants, to ensure optimal overwintering.
• Q: What is the benefit of an everbearing blackberry? A: An everbearing blackberry plant, like the ‘Prime-Ark Horizon,’ offers two distinct harvests: a summer crop on floricanes and a late-season crop on primocanes. This extends your fresh fruit season significantly.
• Q: What type of soil is best for Rubus ‘Horizon’? A: Rubus ‘Horizon’ thrives in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0) is ideal for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Q: Can I grow this blackberry in a large container? A: Yes, you can grow Prime Ark Horizon blackberry in large containers (e.g., 15-20 gallon size or larger) provided they have excellent drainage and the plant receives adequate sunlight and water.