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Kiowa Blackberry

Kiowa Blackberry

53 ReviewsAsk Questions
Starting at
$17.99

Description

The world’s biggest blackberry — up to 3" long! This thorny variety blooms earlier and longer than others. Fruit is large enough to make fresh cobbler with just a few berries. Also great for juice or wine. Summer-bearing floricane. Early season. Ripens in early June. Self-pollinating. May be covered by U.S.P.P. #9861 or other patents.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Pink, White
Fruit Color Black
Fruit Size Extra Large
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest Early June
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 6.8
Taste Sweet
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 1 - 2
Zone Range 5 - 8

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your plant matures, it will be approximately 4 - 5' tall x 3 - 4' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these plants 3 - 4' apart to ensure room for growth.

Recommended Pollinators

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow blackberry plants in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Read about how to grow blackberry plants »

Shipping Information

Estimated Delivery Date

Get an estimated delivery date »

You don't pay until it ships.

We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location. That's why we only ship living products during certain times of the year. Order now and your credit card won't be charged until your climate is suitable for planting success and your order is shipped.

Our Promise of Satisfaction

1 Year Warranty

Every order comes with our promise of satisfaction. If you aren't completely satisfied with your order, let us know within one year for a free one-time replacement or refund.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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Browse 13 questions Browse 13 questions and 48 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
We ordered several varieties of blackberries a few years ago. Love the Kiowa. They are the best producing and largest berry. They taste wonderful, too. Enlarging our blackberry patch, and wanted only Kiowa in it. Your plants always arrive very healthy, but I appreciate how you guarantee them for a year. Thank you!
Sue D on Apr 18, 2018
Excellent results from previous purchase. No other blackberry can compete
Tom J on Feb 13, 2018
We ordered several varieties of blackberries a few years ago. Love the Kiowa. They are the best producing and largest berry. They taste wonderful, too. Enlarging our blackberry patch, and wanted only Kiowa in it. Your plants always arrive very healthy, but I appreciate how you guarantee them for a year. Thank you!
Sue D on Apr 18, 2018
Already have 3, wanted more.
Stanley S on Mar 2, 2018
Excellent results from previous purchase. No other blackberry can compete
Tom J on Feb 13, 2018
We've grown this variety before and loved it; it's vigorous and produces a lot of very large berries.
Michele H on Feb 10, 2018
I love the huge berries you can buy in the store, I am hoping this will be a good berry for my backyard.
Julia E on Apr 14, 2017
Nice large berries with a wonderful taste.
Leland B on Jan 7, 2017
I picked this plant because of the size of the fruit.
Mary C on Jul 31, 2016
Need deer resistant shrubs. The reviews convinced me
JUDITH C on May 24, 2016
Size gotta see this
Jonathan P on May 23, 2016
Because they are huge. Wanted some blackberries to join the rest of the fruit.
Tonya J on May 17, 2016
Because of the novelty. I have a lot of blackberries but this one seems like fun.
Bryan P on May 17, 2016
Size and production
John S on May 17, 2016
This looks incredible! Want to try it out
Elizabeth B on Apr 25, 2016
Already have six. Nice big blackberry.
James T on Mar 26, 2016
Size
Sharon R on Mar 17, 2016
I wanted to see how big it can get in our growing area!
Vicki J on Mar 15, 2016
My niece and nephews will think it's awesome!
Brian H on Mar 9, 2016
I planted some of these 16 years ago and was blown away at the size of the fruit. The old plants have not been doing very well these last few years, not sure if it is age, weather conditions or owner over pruning, but thought I would try planting some new ones.
Stacy H on Mar 8, 2016
Novelty of size and taste and harvest date
Danny P on Feb 29, 2016
Already have 3, wanted more.
Stanley S on Mar 2, 2018
We've grown this variety before and loved it; it's vigorous and produces a lot of very large berries.
Michele H on Feb 10, 2018
can you prune the plant at say 4-5 feet & will it bare fruit. Or is it better to let bush ramble ???
bonnies on Apr 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I have planted more than 100 blackberries plants of 6 different cultivars, one of which is the kiowa, With all the research that I have done, I would conclude that all blackberry cultivars benefit from pruning. It forces the plant to expend more energy growing blackberries and less growing more plant. I would tip the primocanes at 4 to 5 feet, and trellis the laterals out to about 3 to 4 feet on trellis wires set at 30 and 60 inches off the ground. There are good videos on how to do this on line. good luck.
Our first year kiowas taste bitter... Have we done something wrong? Why would they taste terribly bitter?
John W on Jun 19, 2016
BEST ANSWER: The Kiowas turn black well before they are ripe. You need to wait until they soften before they are sweet. I was doing the same thing, until I realized they take a long time to ripen.
Is this a vine or dose it grow canes like other raspberries?
Rene B on Nov 16, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Kiowa is a summer-bearing floricane vs. a trailing vine. The fruit is enormous!
How far from a fence should I plant them?
den1w on Mar 13, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I plant mine 6 inches from the fence. They stay in a clump which just gets bigger around, they are not like a raspberry which sends runners all over the place and you are always cutting them out or digging out somewhere.
Developing berries look small?
Joe S on Jun 9, 2016
BEST ANSWER: These berries grow largest in morning sun with plenty of moisture. If they get too hot of afternoon sun they won't grow to their largest size. They also respond best with high organic matter.
can I grow black berry under a young maple tree?
Lee C on Mar 29, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I wouldn't try this, the maple will shade the blackberry too much, the vines will grow but not produce fruit like you would like to have!
Can I plant cucumbers,tomatoes,green beans etc. next to kiowa blakberries ?
Virginia C on Mar 18, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Yes, you can, all vegetables can grow around them, you would just have to have the space for the sun to reach every thing ok. and don't let the cucumbers climb up your berry vines, as cucumbers can get a mold, which you don't want on your berries.
It says zone 5-8. I live in zone 9b. Will that be a problem?
Donna P on Feb 17, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Yes, I'm afraid it will. It's too warm where you are and the plant won't have a chance to go dormant long enough to complete the fruiting cycle. The Triple Crown Thornless Blackberry is very well suited to where you live.
What's the difference between the 3 cell pack and 1 gallon blackberry?
Andrew W on Feb 16, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Cell Packs are small potted plant starts (either 3 or 6 to an order) that are roughly 4-6" tall. The gallon pot contains one older plant (one year old) with a well established root system.
Do you Carry a torn less Kiowa blackberry?
Beverly B on Oct 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Kiowa, by nature, has thorns. A similar blackberry that doesn't have thorns is Ouachita, which you can investigate here:

http://www.starkbros.com/products/berry-plants/blackberry-plants/ouachita-thornless-blackberry
I JUST PLANTED MY KIOWA BLACK BERRY'S ,DO I PUT A LIGHT DUSTING OF PLANT FOOD ? . ALSO HOW LONG DOSE IT TAKE FOR THEM TO CANE OUT AT 5 FEET TALL
CHRIS S on Sep 4, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. The key is "light dusting." Don't overfertilize. Just a little 10-10-10, or better yet, we have a fertilizer formula made just for blackberries:

http://www.starkbros.com/products/tools-and-supplies/soil-additives/stark-blackberry-and-bramble-fertilizer

It's hard to say when your canes will reach 5'. It depends a great deal upon your soil, what you feed it, how much sun it gets, etc. They could get that tall in a year.

Customer Reviews

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4.5 / 5.0
53 Reviews
5 Stars
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Great choice for Southeast Texas!
I planted Kiowa and Quachita(thornless) about 3 years ago. While the Ouachita is a very good plant, it does not come close to the prolific production of the Kiowa. I have 3 rows about 20 ft long with 4 plants on each row. I pick about 4 to 5 one gallon containers during peak bearing season. I fertilize twice a year with 13-13-13 once in the spring and once in early fall. One thing to note, in hot climates such as southeast Texas, you will need to prune at least twice before cold weather sets in in order to control the height of the plant.
February 24, 2016
Purchased
 over 2 years ago
KIOWA - The best Blackberries you can grow
I purchased my Kiowa Blackberries from Stark Brothers a few years ago. Everyone who sees the huge berries asks two questions : Where did you get them and How do they taste? I tell them that I bought them From Stark Brothers via Mail Order and then, I hand them a couple of berries to taste! Without exception, they all make the same comments as to how Huge they are and How sweet and delicious tasting they are! The canes are sturdy and prolific in bearing; And I prune out the last-year bearing canes each Spring to keep the area neat and easier to pick these luscious berries ! If you are going to plant just one cultivar of Blackberries, I urge you to get the Kiowa from Stark Brothers!
August 21, 2016
Some good characteristics
In zone 8A (upper SC) I got HUGE thick canes the second year with a good amount of large, thumb-sized berries. Beautiful looking. The taste was OK (not as sweet as wild ones) fresh. In pies and sweetbreads, they work very well. Fairly seedy "crunch". VERY thorny so wear leather when you pick. (Thorns curve backward and catch and hold clothes!) Don't even try to cover to prevent bird theft; let them ride. Pick when jet black and soft.
March 13, 2016
Large berries
I planted these last year. I bought 3 plants, They were three different sizes. A large one, a medium sized one and a small one. The large one had 6 berries the first year. This is the second year and they have grown quite a bit and have lots of berries. They also have large thorns. They produce good sized berries. If they keep growing like the first year, I will have a good sized berry patch. I am pleased with my purchase.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Delicious and vigorous grower
I planted it in December and the very next spring saw a few berries. I didn't realize how much it would grow, planted them too close to each other. Vines were 20 feet long, so they need to be trellised. This year (2nd season) they are loaded with huge berries (mid May). The only bad thing about this plant is that it's extremely thorny. I'm planning on using them along a fence in hopes thorns will keep some animals away.
May 15, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Healthy looking start
Too early to see how this new plant will do, but on arrival the new baby looks good and green and ready to go. This plant arrived in November here. So we will see how the growth goes for this season!
February 25, 2016
Purchased
 over 2 years ago
Kiowa blackberries from Stark Bros.
Kiowa blackberries from Stark Bros. have proven to be exceptionally vigorous and hearty while growing prodigious amounts of the tart, juicy berries.
The second year plants produce long canes which wrap easily around wire stringers that make berry picking easy and fun.
They grow in clumps of four to five berries, many growing over one inch, some growing to two inches.
The bushes have a life cycle of five to six years.
On a side note, Stark Bros. ships the berry plants in specially designed containers which protect them well.
May 17, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
HUGE BERRIES!!!!
I purchased 6 Kiowa Blackberries 2 years ago and got several quarts of Berries last year. The main reason I purchased them is because they are supposed to ripen in June. This gets them out ahead of the onslaught off Spotted Wing Drosophila flies which start getting bad towards the end of July. They need to be pruned properly to ripen in June. They do have thorns but I can put up with those. The berries are AMAZINGLY HUGE!!!
May 6, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Kiowa Blackberries
The berries are wonderful. They are huge! They freeze very well, just wash them and freeze in zip lock bag and they are ready to take out to make either jam or blackberry cobbler at any time. I am very pleased!
May 4, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Very vigorous plant with huge sweet berries!
Best blackberry I've planted! Very vigorous, produces enormous berries. They looked like apples in my 2 year old son's hand, very sweet too. Unfortunately deer liked it too and shredded all bushed down to the ground. To my amusement plants returned this spring and I cant wait to have berries again. No pests were a problem. I will defenately put up trellis this year. It seems like it needs it.
May 7, 2017
Purchased
 over 2 years ago

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