Thornless Blackberry Harvest is Underway

A couple years ago we planted two thornless blackberry bushes.  They were cultivars called Arapaho and were developed by the University of Arkansas.  Every blackberry bush I've ever been associated grew wild along fence rows and had thorns.  These are different - we planted them in the yard and they have absolutely no thorns.  Last year they produced a few, fat, juicy berries.  This year they have put out new canes and have gotten larger.  The berries are also numerous.  Each day we pick them to try to stay ahead of the birds who have also discovered them.

One of the two bushes, loaded with berries

First, they turn red and then black.

The berries are big and juicy.  We'll normally eat one while picking.  It is sweet and juicy and warm from the summer sun.

I hope we are able to keep it growing so that it gets bigger and spreads out.

We've just started to pick, but we'll bring them inside and wash them and then place them on a tray in the freezer.  When adequately frozen, we use a spatula to remove them from the tray and put them into zip loc bags, the gallon size.  They are individually frozen so they are easy to measure out to make pies or cobblers.

It is hard to beat a homemade blackberry pie and a cup of coffee!