Do blackberries cross-pollinate?

[sandyullom]

I want to try starting some blackberry plants and after some research would like to try both the Doyles Thornless and the Triple Crown. My question is can I plant both of these in the same area or will the cross-pollinate and lose there distinctive traits?

 

[vfem]

Good question... I have no idea. :/

 

[journey11]

I'm sure they do, as I have been told not to plant within 500 feet of wild blackberries. However, it is easier to propagate your blackberries from shoots rather than seed (and that won't make cross-pollination an issue).

I know the Doyles Thornless are particularly good about this because most of those I have I got from my Gpa who took them off of his patch and now I am splitting mine. It may take awhile to accumulate them, but you can expand your patch by digging out any that come up about a 8-12" from the main plant. I don't like to dig any closer than that myself, so as not to risk disturbing too much of the root on the main plant. Be sure to dig deeply enough to get some roots with it. It doesn't take a whole lot to get it going.

I think I have heard that you can also root cuttings, but I don't know anything about that, never done it, but you might google it.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

I want to try starting some blackberry plants and after some research would like to try both the Doyles Thornless and the Triple Crown. My question is can I plant both of these in the same area or will the cross-pollinate and lose there distinctive traits?

As in the wild there are thousands of blackberry plants which look & taste different, growing side by side, they obviously do cross pollinate. The advice is to plant them well away from raspberries too. But I have my raspberry patch very near to wild blackberries growing just over the fence -- I have not seen any evidence of cross pollination.

Here is some information ( on page 2 of this link):

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-07-28/home-and-garden/17253613_1_blackberries-rubus-canes

Hope this helps.


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[patandchickens]

What Journey11 said. They may, but it will not affect you in the slightest.

It will not change the nature of the berries, only the nature of the offspring you get from their seeds, and you wouldn't be propagating them from seed *anyhow* so who cares

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[sandyullom]

What Journey11 said. They may, but it will not affect you in the slightest.

It will not change the nature of the berries, only the nature of the offspring you get from their seeds, and you wouldn't be propagating them from seed *anyhow* so who cares

Is that the same with cross-pollination of peppers as well? I know that you are not supposed to plant hot and sweet together, but I always assumed it affected the fruit itself, not just the nature of the offspring from the seed. I'm confused :/

 

[digitS']

With peppers, don't we know it's the seeds that can be 5-alarm HOT?!!

Since the seeds are the offspring of the crossing, the seeds in a sweet bell pepper pollinated by a hot pepper may be hot.

Steve

 

[sandyullom]

okay - that makes sense.

Thanks Steve

 

[GardeNerd]

I want to try starting some blackberry plants and after some research would like to try both the Doyles Thornless and the Triple Crown. My question is can I plant both of these in the same area or will the cross-pollinate and lose there distinctive traits?

Normally blackberries are propagated by tip layering, and thus they stay genetically identical. If a fruit falls that was cross pollinated, germinates, but you don't notice, you will begin to have a new variety growing within your old one.

I love my Triple Crown Blackberry. It is very well behaved (for a BlackBerry) and very flavorful. The kids pick Triple Crown's fruit, but not my other thorny ones.