Prime-Ark Horizon Thornless Blackberry Live Plant – Everbearing Bush

Overview

Discover the joy of growing your own berries with the Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant. This remarkable variety is a high-yielding, primocane-fruiting (everbearing) live plant, meticulously developed by the University of Arkansas to bring superior performance to your garden. Known for its generous production of large, firm berries and an extended harvest season, the Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant offers a unique opportunity for gardeners to enjoy fresh, homegrown fruit. Unlike many traditional varieties, this plant delivers both a summer floricane crop and a substantial late-season primocane crop, ensuring a continuous supply of delicious blackberries. Its thornless nature makes harvesting a breeze, adding to its appeal for both novice and experienced growers. Ideal for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9, this variety thrives particularly well in the mid to upper South, making it a versatile choice for many climates. Whether you’re an avid gardener or just starting, this plant promises a rewarding experience with abundant, flavorful fruit.

Key Benefits

The Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it an outstanding addition to any home garden. Its unique characteristics contribute to a successful and enjoyable growing experience, providing both convenience and delicious rewards.

• Dual Harvest Seasons: Enjoy two distinct harvests each year – a floricane crop in summer and a primocane crop in the late season. This everbearing nature ensures a prolonged supply of fresh blackberries, maximizing your yield and enjoyment.
• Thornless Canes: Harvesting your berries is a pain-free experience thanks to the thornless canes of this variety. This feature makes maintenance and picking significantly easier and more pleasant for all gardeners.
• Large, High-Quality Fruit: The berries produced by the Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant are notably large, averaging 7.8 grams, with individual fruits often reaching an impressive 10-15 grams. They are firm, juicy, and possess excellent flavor, perfect for eating fresh, baking, or preserving.
• High Yielding: Developed for productivity, this variety is known for its high yields, providing an abundant harvest that will satisfy your craving for fresh blackberries and potentially leave you with plenty to share or store.
• Adaptable Growth: Best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9, this plant demonstrates strong adaptability, especially in warmer climates. Its robust nature makes it a reliable choice for a wide range of gardening conditions.
• Developed by Experts: Originating from the University of Arkansas, this variety benefits from extensive research and development, ensuring a plant that is well-suited for home cultivation and known for its superior traits.
• Freshness at Your Fingertips: Growing your own everbearing blackberry means you have access to the freshest possible fruit, picked at its peak ripeness, enhancing your culinary creations and healthy snacking options.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant is straightforward, and with proper attention, you can expect bountiful harvests. These plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the best fruit. Ensure your planting site receives ample light throughout the day. When it comes to soil, well-draining, slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0-6.5) is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and fertility. Consistent moisture is crucial, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. Water deeply and regularly, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering to minimize fungal diseases. Mulching around the base of the plant can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Fertilize your thornless blackberry bush in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or a granular fertilizer formulated for berries. Follow package instructions for application rates. Pruning is essential for maintaining plant health and maximizing yield. Since this is a primocane-fruiting variety, you’ll get two crops. For the primocane crop, allow new canes to grow and fruit in late summer/fall. After fruiting, these canes can be cut back. For the floricane crop, canes that produced fruit the previous year will produce again in early summer; these should be removed after harvest. Remove any weak, diseased, or dead canes throughout the year. Protect young plants from extreme winter cold in the lower end of their hardiness range by applying a thick layer of mulch or covering them. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or spider mites and treat with organic pest control methods if necessary. Proper care will ensure your grow blackberries successfully and yield delicious fruit for years.

Size & Details

This offering is for 1 Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant, provided as a healthy starter plug. Each plug is carefully cultivated to ensure a strong root system, ready for transplanting into your garden. While initial size may vary, these starter plugs are designed to establish quickly and grow into mature, fruit-bearing bushes. Expect a moderate to fast growth rate under optimal conditions. Mature plants typically reach a height of 4-6 feet and a similar spread, making them suitable for various garden sizes or even large containers. The thornless canes contribute to easy handling and harvesting. With proper care, you can anticipate your first primocane crop in the late season of the first year after planting, followed by consistent dual harvests in subsequent years. This everbearing blackberry is a long-term investment in fresh fruit for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: A mature Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant typically reaches a height of 4-6 feet with a similar spread. Its size can be managed with proper pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is an outdoor plant, best suited for garden cultivation. It requires full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant thrives in full sun, requiring a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this variety is relatively easy to care for, especially due to its thornless nature. Consistent watering, proper pruning, and adequate sunlight are key to success.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Prime-Ark Horizon blackberry plant will arrive as a healthy starter plug with a developed root system, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: As a primocane-fruiting variety, you can often expect a late-season primocane crop in the first year after planting, with full production in subsequent years.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your thornless blackberry bush is in early spring after the last frost, or in early fall in warmer climates, allowing the roots to establish before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This variety is best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9. In Zone 6, some winter protection like mulching may be beneficial.
• Q: What type of soil does this plant prefer? A: It prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Amending with organic matter is recommended for heavy soils.
• Q: Can I grow blackberries in a container? A: Yes, you can grow blackberries in large containers (at least 15-20 gallons) with good drainage, ensuring they receive adequate sunlight and water.