Blackberry (bramble) 'Black Satin' (Rubus fruticosus) - hardy small fruit - 9 cm pot - Height 35 cm

Yes, that is precisely one of the great advantages of the 'Black Satin' cultivar (Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin'): its stems are said to be unarmed, meaning they are completely free of thorns or prickles. This makes pruning, trellising, and especially harvesting much more pleasant, even for children. This characteristic in no way compromises the vigor of the plant or the abundance of its yield. You get all the benefits of a wild blackberry bush, without the inconvenience of scratches.

The 'Black Satin' blackberries are produced from late July to September, depending on the climate and 'exposure. Flowering begins in June-July, with small, highly melliferous pinkish-white flowers, and the fruit ripens gradually in clusters on the two-year stems. The harvest is spread over several weeks, allowing for a continuous supply of fruit rather than 'all at once. In the warmest regions of southern France, the first blackberries can appear as early as mid-July.

The 'Black Satin' blackberry tolerates container-growing, provided you choose a large pot of 'at least 40 to 50 liters, filled with 'a rich, well-draining potting mix. It needs 'a sturdy support (trellis, stake, or balustrade) to train its vigorous canes. It must be watered more frequently than 'when planted in the ground, especially during summer, as the potting mix dries out quickly in the heat. Apply a slow-release fruit fertilizer in spring to support production. In a container, the plant remains slightly less productive than 'when planted in the ground, but the yield is perfectly satisfactory for family use.

The size of the 'Black Satin' blackberry depends on a simple principle: each cane bears fruit only 'once, in its second year after growth. Therefore, after the harvest (late August to October), all canes that have borne fruit must be cut flush to the ground (recognizable by their darker wood and exhausted lateral branches). The new green shoots of the 'year, the "canes", must be kept, selected at a rate of 6 to 8 per plant, and neatly tied up for the 'winter. They will produce the 'following summer. Thornless, this operation takes little time and remains pleasant to perform.

Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin' is a perfectly hardy variety, capable of withstanding temperatures of around -20 °C without any protection. Its deciduous foliage falls naturally in autumn and the woody stems survive the winter undamaged in all regions of France, including mountainous areas and northern France. It is not necessary to mulch or cover the base of the plant except in cases of exceptional severe cold in very exposed areas. In spring, the plant vigorously regrows from March.

The 'Black Satin' blackberry requires a sunny spot to reach its full fruit-bearing potential. At least 6 hours of sunlight a day is recommended; more sun will make the fruit sweeter and more plentiful. A south- or southwest-facing wall is the 'ideal location, as the heat absorbed by the masonry promotes early, optimal ripening of the berries. In too much shade, the plant will grow but produce little fruit, and the berries will remain tart and underdeveloped. Avoid damp garden corners shaded by trees.

To create a fruit hedge with the 'Black Satin' blackberry, allow a spacing of 1.5 to 2 metres between each plant. For a 3-metre stretch, 2 plants are sufficient to form a dense and productive hedge in 2 to 3 seasons. Thanks to its rapid growth, Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin' quickly colonises the space and can cover a trellis or fence in a single growing season. The bulk packaging offered by Plant and Stories makes it possible to plant several plants in a single order to effectively cover a length of fence or garden.