Blackberry season fast approaching and local farmers say the Upper Cumberland is a great place to grow blackberries.
Smithville Farmer John Adam Turner from Turner and Sons Nursery in Smithville said the ample rainfall and humidity help blackberries thrive across the region. Turner said he likes to pick blackberries when they just start to turn black.
“Blackberries don’t ripen in complete clusters, so you’re basically picking one at a time versus some grape vines you would cut off the whole cluster at once,” Turner said. “So with blackberries, you know, you kind of have to continue picking them until they’re all done. It’s not a one pass type deal.”
Turner said blackberry season typically arrives mid-summer, but planting begin in October.
Turner said blackberries can be used for jams, jellies, and pies, but recently, blackberry juice has become popular. Turner said the market for blackberry juice may come from a demand for wine.
“As we see that market open and develop in our tourist areas, the support of Pick Tennessee, and the wine trails we have now, as a grower, you definitely have options on how you can market [blackberries],” Turner said.
Victoria Bain owns Bain’s Barnyard in Cumberland County. She said some uncommon uses for blackberries are in dyes and with water, so people can get antioxidants while staying hydrated. Bain said this year’s blackberry crop has been great.
“We’ve planted extra blackberry vines, and those won’t be ready until next year, but our blackberries from last year have grown so much, so we have so many extra blackberries this year,” Bain said. “I think all the extra rain is helping them ripen up and get all of the nutrients they need.”
Bain said blackberries can be trained to grow to a certain space and trellising can help control them. Bain said blackberries do not have to be replanted every year thanks to the region’s mild climate.
