Tips, Tricks, Lessons-Learned, and so much more
We have a weird story about growing these Thornless Boysenberry Plants, We were already building our pallet herb garden at the time, and we had herbs and tomatoes, and mint growing well, and Markos was joking that we were becoming farmer,s and I was just hoping something wouldn’t die this week.
I remember the first time I saw tiny berries forming on the thornless canes and it felt like magic, and yeah I screamed a little because I really didn’t think we’d done it right and even though I spotted a few weird white spots on the leaves and panicked for a minute, we figured it out, and the plant kept growing.
Now it’s the star of our garden and I’m not even kidding and it stretches along the fence like a berry wall of happiness and the kids race out every morning in summer to pick the ripest ones before breakfast and sometimes they don’t even make it inside
Have you ever had something grow that made you feel proud and kinda emotional, and also a little shocked that you didn’t kill it
That’s this plant for me and that’s why I had to share this with you because I’ve made every mistake in the book with these and somehow they’re still growing and giving and getting better every year.
So if you’ve got space and sun and a little patience and you’re dreaming of growing sweet juicy berries without the scratches and drama and you’ve maybe got a pallet herb garden of your own or a few pots on the porch or even just curiosity, then friend, this post is for you
We’re diving into thornless boysenberries today and I’ll show you how to plant them and care for them and deal with little things like white spots, and especially how to prune them the easy way because pruning used to scare me but now it’s kind of my favorite part.
What Are Thornless Boysenberry Plants?
Thornless boysenberries are berry plants that don’t have sharp thorns on their stems. That makes them safer to touch, grow, and pick berries from. These plants are a mix of a few berries: blackberry, raspberry, and loganberry!
They grow long vines, called canes, and need space and something to climb on, like a fence or trellis. In late spring or early summer, they give good berries that are great for snacks, jam, pies, or just eating fresh.
Best Place to Plant Thornless Boysenberries
Boysenberries love sunshine. Here’s what they need:
- A sunny spot with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
- Soil that drains water well. No soggy spots!
- Room to spread. The canes can grow long and wide.
Shortcut Tip: Use raised beds or big pots with holes in the bottom to keep roots happy and dry!
How to Take Care of Thornless Boysenberry Plants?
It’s not hard! These plants just need a few things:
- Watering: Give them water when the soil feels dry. But don’t drown them!
- Feeding: Use berry fertilizer in early spring and again after they make fruit.
- Support: Let them grow up a trellis or fence. It keeps them clean and easy to pick!
How to Prune a Thornless Boysenberry Plant?
Here’s how to do it:
In Summer (After You Pick the Berries)
- Cut off the old canes that gave you berries. They won’t grow fruit again.
- Use garden scissors and snip them all the way down near the soil.
In Late Winter or Early Spring
- Trim the new canes (these are called primocanes).
- Leave the best 5–7 canes per plant.
- Tie them gently to your trellis so they grow straight.
- Cut off tiny side branches that don’t look strong.
Use soft ties like old t-shirt strips to hold the canes without hurting them!
Tools You’ll Need to Grow and Prune
- Gardening gloves
- Sharp scissors or garden pruners
- Soft string or garden ties
- A small shovel
- A watering can
- A trellis or fence for support
Notes for Happy Growing
- Always water at the base of the plant, not on the leaves.
- Keep the area around your plants weed-free.
- Mulch around the base to keep the soil moist and cool.
- If you see bugs, gently spray with soapy water.
When Will You Get Berries?
Thornless boysenberries usually give fruit in late spring to early summer. After you plant them, you might have to wait a year to get your first berries. But once they start, they come back every year!
How to Make More Boysenberry Plants?
Want more plants? You can grow them from the canes!
- Let a cane touch the ground.
- It will grow roots there!
- After a few weeks, cut the new rooted part and plant it somewhere else.
What Can You Make with Boysenberries?
- Boysenberry jam
- Boysenberry pie
- Boysenberry smoothies
- Eat them fresh with whipped cream
What to Do in Fall and Winter?
- In fall, clean up any old leaves around the plant.
- In winter, trim extra canes and cover the soil with straw or mulch to keep it warm.
- Don’t worry—your plant is just sleeping! It will wake up in spring.
Some Tips!
- Use mulch to keep weeds away.
- Water once or twice a week, deeply.
- Use a trellis to keep berries off the ground.
- Cut old canes right after you pick the berries.
- Use berry food in spring for more fruit.
- Let canes touch soil to make new baby plants.
- Keep pets away so they don’t dig!
- Put a net over the plant to keep birds from eating berries.
- Use garden labels to remember plant names.
- Harvest berries when they are deep purple and fall off easily.
- Keep the area tidy for fewer bugs.
- Always smile while gardening—it helps the berries grow (just kidding, but it’s fun)!
FAQ
What are thornless boysenberries?
They are berries that grow on plants without sharp thorns.
Are thornless boysenberries safe for kids?
Yes.
Do I need a big garden to grow them?
Nope.
When do I pick the berries?
Pick them in late spring or early summer when they’re dark purple.
How do I make more boysenberry plants?
Let a cane touch the ground, it will grow roots!
Do I need to water every day?
No, just when the soil feels dry.
What kind of soil do they like?
Soil that drains water and isn’t too soggy.
Can I eat the berries right off the plant?
Yes, but wash them first.
Do thornless boysenberries grow every year?
Yes, they come back every year!
Do I need to cut the plant?
Yes, cut old canes after picking berries.
What do I do in winter?
Trim and cover the soil to keep the roots warm.
What if bugs eat my plant?
Spray with gentle soapy water or pick off the bugs.
