Prime-Ark® Freedom Primocane Blackberry Plant

Put a piece of green flagging on the 1st year cane. Add a piece of blue flagging to the cane when it reaches the second year. In the fall, after it fruits, cut down the canes with both blue and green flagging.
Eventually you won't need to mark the canes, because you can tell them apart. But until then, the flags will show you exactly what year the canes are on.

Thank you for your question! Our blackberry plants in the Jumbo Cell Pack have a shipping expectation of 4-6" tall. In the small gallon, they are about a foot tall with an advanced root system.

No, blackberries produce on previous years growth. Prime-ark varieties will also produce some on new growth later in the season. After last years growth is through producing it then needs to be pruned out.
Ours are now 1+ years old, last years growth is loaded with berries and still blooming. We are seeing several new healthy shoots coming up and are making us look forward to even more berries next year. hope this helps.

CAN you prune them down to 6" or to the ground? YES, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! Make it work for your space and comfortable for your garden style. If you do, will get fruit? Probably!!! These are PRIMOCANE. They will fruit on first year canes, and also again on the second year. We have them established along a handicap ramp leading to the porch (no thorns!) and cut them down to about knee height in winter. They leaf out nicely and provide beauty and fruit yearly. Don't be afraid to prune them back as they are quite a vigorous cultivar. Have fun and make your garden work for you!

I would say that the seeds are of average size for a blackberry. However, the blackberries themselves are very large, juicy and sweet. I planted mine in April 2015 and by September it was 5' tall and 3' wide. Some berries grew 1.75" long. And all on the primo canes with no thorns. Truly an amazing variety!

Well
I would order the paks because you will have to get the plant established with the soil and first Year is light production. Get more for your money and be patient second year would be good Third best. Do the placement, mulching, and pruning otherwise it will be a waste

My brother lives in Northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. I gave him some and he is able to grow them. It wouldn't be as far north as you, but my guess is they would survive and thrive there. The variety was bred at the University of Arkansas for that general climate. Blackberries are fairly resilient and will grow most places in the lower 48. I advised him to keep his in the garage the first winter to allow them time to develop roots and get established. He did and the next year after he planted them outdoors, they were productive.

You're not alone—PrimArk® Freedom is advertised as a more upright, self-supporting blackberry, but in practice, many growers find it behaves more like a semi-erect type, especially in rich soils or humid climates. Here's how to get it growing more upright without needing a full trellis or cage system:

🌿 Why the Canes Are Flopping or Breaking
Vigorous growth: Freedom produces thick, fast-growing canes, especially in its first few years.

Heavy primocanes: It fruits on primocanes (first-year canes), so early summer growth is top-heavy by design.

Soil, water, and nutrients: Even in poorer soil, Freedom can push out long canes searching for light or nutrients—leading to breakage.

✅ Solutions Without Trellis/Cage
1. Pinch or Top the Canes Early
When: When the primocanes reach about 3–4 feet tall in spring/early summer.

Why: Topping encourages branching and upright growth, and limits height/weight.

How: Just pinch or snip the tips off with pruners—this encourages the cane to thicken and branch instead of stretching and drooping.

2. Install Single Stakes (Low-profile support)
Even without a full trellis, a wood or bamboo stake beside each plant (tied loosely) can keep canes upright.

This is helpful especially in the first couple of years while the base structure develops.

3. Plant Closer Together
If possible in the future, spacing 2–3 ft apart helps the canes lean against each other, forming a more self-supporting hedge.

4. Mulch & Feed to Encourage Fruiting Over Growth
PrimArk Freedom can get "leggy" in poor soil. Applying compost, aged manure, or balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring and again after harvest can improve berry set.

However, don’t overdo nitrogen, which encourages excess cane growth at the expense of fru

It sounds like your blackberry plants are healthy and vigorous but underperforming when it comes to fruit production. Here are some possible reasons and solutions:
1. Lack of Pollination
Cause: If pollinators are not abundant during bloom time, the flowers may not set fruit.
Solution: Plant pollinator-friendly flowers nearby to attract bees and other pollinators. You can also try hand-pollinating by gently brushing flowers with a small paintbrush.
2. Pruning Practices
Cause: Blackberries fruit on second-year canes (floricanes). If you’re pruning these canes back during the wrong time of year, you may be inadvertently removing fruiting wood.
Solution: Only remove spent canes (those that have already fruited) after harvest. Leave healthy new canes (primocanes) to grow for next year’s fruit.
3. Excessive Vegetative Growth
Cause: Too much nitrogen, even from compost, can result in vigorous cane growth at the expense of fruit production.
Solution: Avoid additional nitrogen-based fertilizers. A balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) applied sparingly in the spring may help.
4. Overcrowding
Cause: If the plant is overly dense with canes, air circulation and sunlight penetration might be reduced, which can hinder fruit production.
Solution: Thin out the canes in late winter or early spring, leaving only the strongest 6-8 canes per plant. This promotes better air circulation and redirects energy toward fruiting.
5. Insufficient Sunlight
Cause: Blackberries need full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily) to produce well.
Solution: Ensure the plants are not shaded by nearby trees or structures.
6. Environmental Stress
Cause: Weather conditions, such as late frosts, drought, or extreme heat, during the flowering or fruiting period can reduce yields.
Solution: Mulch the base of the plants to retain moisture and protect roots. Water during dry spells, especially when plants are flowering and fruiting.

It is normal. Mine did that. What I have found out from reading, not experience, is to keep them trimmed back. Of course, the thing that must be done each year is to cut the blackberry floricane (the branch that has already had berries) back all the way to the crown.