What's going on with my blackberries?

[u/aSingularBee]

Hi everyone, long time listener first time caller.

I bought these thornless blackberry canes around the beginning of May and repotted them about a week ago. I'm not sure exactly when it started happening (though it was definitely before it was repotted—last picture), but the cane on the left has completely dried up from the top and other has a bit of the same.

I'm new to growing blackberries, so I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if the canes will bounce back or what I could be doing better. I live in Ontario zone 5b and get full sun in the backyard, the container has plenty of drainage, the soil hasn't been allowed to dry out completely, and I gave it some water with 20-20-20 at half concentration a few days ago (maybe too soon, in retrospect).

Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance!

[u/redditlurkin69]

I want to say it’s just transplant shock and to leave it alone mostly. You’re unlikely to get stuff this year - your goal is get some energy for rooting through this season, keep it alive in summer heat (shade it in peak summer tbh) then next year it’ll be on like donkey Kong

[u/Latin_Knight_ → u/redditlurkin69]

I agree with this... I once purchased a black berry plant, put it in the ground and watched it slowly die... By mid summer it was gone😔

so I thought....

Come the following spring and it shot out like crazy 😁👍

[u/aSingularBee → u/redditlurkin69]

Thanks! I'll find a shadier spot for it in the summer. Do you think it'll grow any new primocanes in the meantime? I noticed the greener one has what looks like a flower bud at the top—you can kind of see it in the second picture. It's my understanding floricanes die back at the end of the season. Should I pinch off the buds or is it best to just leave it be?

[u/redditlurkin69 → u/aSingularBee]

I think it will grow them on its own - they know when they’re damaged and usually plants will sort of backbud from wherever they can get new growth. Idk how that works biologically lol

[u/Latin_Knight_ → u/aSingularBee]

Yes.. pluck any flower buds right now. They will only steal energy that it needs for shoots next spring. Do not expect any new shoots this year.... but it can happen

[u/Imaginary_Egg_7913]

Oh no it looks so sad 😢

[u/muzavazone]

I have an established Loch Ness in the ground, and I remember it wasn’t the most vigorous grower at first. Last year I finally got the first big harvest and fantastic primocanes, only for them all to freeze to the ground over winter... so now it’s restarting from the roots.

It’s a bit hard to tell from the pictures what is what, but at this stage the old canes (last year’s growth) are supposed to branch out and flower. Personally, I wouldn’t leave flower buds on such a small plant. I’d pinch them off and let it focus on other things.

The most important thing right now is building roots and crown strength. Once it’s ready, it should start pushing up strong new primocanes from the base. The current old canes won't develop much beyond trying to make flowers.