Darrow - Blackberry

Darrow is an erect blackberry cultivar with vigorous, thorny canes and large, sweet fruit. It has a long harvest season, making a home planting useful for repeated picking. Iowa State lists Darrow among the hardiest blackberry varieties for Iowa, while University of Maine describes its fruit as large and glossy and notes that virus infections can shorten plant life. Give the canes a sunny place with well-drained soil, keep them away from wild brambles, and mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Water in dry weather. Blackberry canes live for two seasons: first-year primocanes become fruiting floricanes the following year, then die. Regular pruning keeps the planting open and productive. Space plants so vigorous canes can be reached for harvest, and remove spent canes after fruiting. ## Maintenance During dry periods, water the root zone and renew mulch as needed. In spring remove dead or weak canes; after harvest remove canes that have finished fruiting while retaining healthy first-year growth for the next crop. Check regularly for cane or leaf problems, since Darrow is described as susceptible to viruses. [Sources: Iowa State Extension](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-blackberries-home-garden), [University of Maine Extension](https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2172e/), [Illinois Extension](https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=500&PlantTypeID=10).