Propagating Wild Blackberries

Good neighbor pulled in my driveway yesterday after noon. He came barring gifts, in the form of two 3 ft long wild blackberry cuttings. His mother has a blackberry monster, abut 100 years old, growing all willy nilly like on a large property she owns a few miles south of here. And as both good neighbor and I have been having issues with the domesticated type, he thought we should give the cutting a go.

Good neighbor merely cuts them, then shoves them in the ground. Which does work, but we here on the Neophyte Homestead are a bit more methodical.

Here now, don't go hacking up a wild blackberry bush. Get permission first.

Pick out the stem you want, and try to cut it at an angle, a spear if you will. But if someone just hands you a stick that has been obviously cut with a semi dull knife, and is torn, we can work with that as well. Ain't picky here by golly. Push your razor or exacto into the bottom of the stem creating an X.

Now we are going to remove the small, newly forming stems/leaves a few inches up from the bottom of the stem.

 Here is where I give a product shout out. I have had this bottle for 6 years, and haven't used anything else. So I am unable to give you a product comparisson. I use Schultz,

 however I hear it told just about any cloning gel or powder works about the same. You want to get your stem wet, and apply the cloning or rooting compound to the very end of the stem, then on each of the knots where the small stems were removed.

Don't allow those removed stems go to waste. Dip the ends in water than your cloning or rooting compound, then plant. Moisten the soil and place in full sun.

As for your large stems, we trench them for a few weeks before planting. Plant them on their side in a shallow grave ( trench ), and allow the roots to form over a 2 week period. Then plant where you need them.

Your plants will go through a severe shock, and you will have to water the sticks for awhile. However they will grow roots if done properly, then return to their leafy state.

Propagation can be fun and relaxing, until the puppy yanks them all up and drags them all over the yard. If that happens replant. Cut any of the broken stems in the same way, compound, plant, moisten.