Blackberries not fruiting - Ask Extension
For the second year in a row, my blackberries have flowered but not produced any fruit. They seem to have been pollinated and are near blueberries and...
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Blackberries not fruiting #872506
Asked June 10, 2024, 6:59 PM EDT
For the second year in a row, my blackberries have flowered but not produced any fruit. They seem to have been pollinated and are near blueberries and raspberries that produce fruit successfully.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- the browning of leaf edges, canes, and flowers and abnormal fruit growth suggests three possibilities: a virus, herbicide injury, or genetic mutation (less likely if multiple plants are affected).
How many plants are affected? Same variety?
When were they planted?
Did you see identical symptoms last year?
Did any normal fruit ripen last year?
Do you see other symptoms- leaf cupping, wilting, color variations in the leaves?
Do you see small insects flying when you tap leaves and shoots?
Were any herbicides applied nearby last year or this year?
Was the soil treated any differently where the blackberries were planted?
Thanks,
Jon
How many plants are affected? Same variety?
When were they planted?
Did you see identical symptoms last year?
Did any normal fruit ripen last year?
Do you see other symptoms- leaf cupping, wilting, color variations in the leaves?
Do you see small insects flying when you tap leaves and shoots?
Were any herbicides applied nearby last year or this year?
Was the soil treated any differently where the blackberries were planted?
Thanks,
Jon
Thanks for the response!
These are out of my neighbors yard, previous owners planted them and she is allergic so I removed them for her.
Same symptoms last year as well. They are expanding in growth but not fruiting. Flowers seem normal.
Definitely no herbicides, no soil treated as far as I know.
I don't see any insects, everything around them seems to be normal.
Not seeing other symptoms. Plants seem to be healthy otherwise.
Hi- all of the flowers in the photos appear to be dead.
Are the normal flowers on the new shoots that emerged this spring?
Are the dead flowers and abnormal fruits near the top or the bottom of the canes?
Is it possible that this variety is a primocane-bearing blackberry (flowers and fruit form on first-year canes) and that the symptoms are on canes that overwintered poorly?
UME cane fruit page:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-raspberries-and-blackberries-home-garden/
Jon
Are the normal flowers on the new shoots that emerged this spring?
Are the dead flowers and abnormal fruits near the top or the bottom of the canes?
Is it possible that this variety is a primocane-bearing blackberry (flowers and fruit form on first-year canes) and that the symptoms are on canes that overwintered poorly?
UME cane fruit page:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-raspberries-and-blackberries-home-garden/
Jon
I guess they all flowered and then died? This was a large patch of white flowers with a lot of pollinators on it.
These are second year ones, the flowering canes grew last year and new canes are coming up now for next year.
The entire patch has dead flowers, up and down the canes.
They might be poorly overwintered but I haven't had this problem with any other bramble in my yard.
I am also keeping everything watered.
Hi- we're stumped. We cannot diagnose the specific cause(s) of the problem.
Please send us more photos if symptoms change or worsen.
Considering all of the symptoms—darkened stems, leaves with brown edges, and fruits that are abnormal in shape and not sizing and coloring normally—we think you may want to consider removing and discarding the plants.
Jon
Please send us more photos if symptoms change or worsen.
Considering all of the symptoms—darkened stems, leaves with brown edges, and fruits that are abnormal in shape and not sizing and coloring normally—we think you may want to consider removing and discarding the plants.
Jon
Hi- I shared your photos with our small fruit pathologist. He's unsure of the cause and suggested some possibilties:
1. Rosetta (double blossom); see attached file
2. A virus or phytoplasma
Nearby wild blackberries are often associated with cane fruit viruses and phytoplasmas. They are a reservoir of diseases that are transmitted by insects with sucking mouthparts to cultivated brambles.
Jon
1. Rosetta (double blossom); see attached file
2. A virus or phytoplasma
Nearby wild blackberries are often associated with cane fruit viruses and phytoplasmas. They are a reservoir of diseases that are transmitted by insects with sucking mouthparts to cultivated brambles.
Jon
Thanks! Not seeing symptoms of rosette. Possibly virus then. If I pull the plants out (likely path forward) do the viruses linger in the soil?
Julie
Hi- no, they can't survive in soil. They are obligate parasites, requiring living host tissue. Remove as much of the plant as possible, sending it all out to the curb for yard waste pickup.
Jon
Jon
Thank you so much for the extensive help with this!
Julie
You are quite welcome. Best of luck this growing season!
Jon
Jon
