blackberry question

[bookwormom]

husband planted two thornless blackberry bushes by two porch posts two years ago. I have never raised any before and was wondering what to do. they have sprouted several extremely long canes, do they need to be cut back,and how many? I seem to remember having read that you leave only one cane but am not sure at all. If you know how to treat those plants I appreciate the advice. Thanks

[zebraman]

Hey Bookwormom;You need to cut back the canes that bore fruit from the prior season.If none of the long canes have yet to produce fruit,leave them alone.Fruiting happens on new canes.All the ones that produce berries this year are the ones to cut back in the fall.-

[Smoky]

Are they getting full sun? Hope so. Watch for the new canes coming up near the base of the present ones so you don't cut them down. I have to tie mine up on a fence, since the vines, altho upright, will be weighed down with the fruit, they are heavy bearers. It helps a little to increase the yield if you pinch the vine out at about 5 or 6 feet long. Do the pinching in summer when the vine gets to 6 feet, just pinch off the tip. Then you'll get laterals, the more laterals, the more fruit.
Watch out for the Japanese Beetles, they love them as much as roses.
After you pick all the fruit, cut the vines THAT HAD BERRIES off at ground level. Leave the new ones for next year.