How Do I Train Blackberry Canes on a Support?

Training blackberry canes on a structured support system — a fence, wall or free-standing post-and-wire — is one of the most productive management decisions a home grower can make. Trained blackberries produce significantly more fruit than untrained plants, suffer less disease, and are much easier to manage and harvest. The two most widely used training methods are the fan system and the one-way system, and both work well in garden settings.

Setting up the support

Install two robust posts at each end of the growing position, at least 1.8 m tall above ground. Run three horizontal galvanised wires between the posts at heights of approximately 60 cm, 100 cm and 140 cm. Tension the wires firmly — blackberry canes are heavy when laden with fruit and can pull loose wires out of position. For wall or fence training, use vine eyes and training wire at the same heights.

The fan training method

In the fan system, the current-year fruiting canes are spread and tied in a fan shape across the full width of the support — left side, centre and right. The new primocanes are tied up through the centre of the fan as they grow, keeping them in a loose upright bundle away from the fruiting wood. After harvest, the old fruited canes are cut out from the fan, and the new canes (now the next season's floricanes) are spread and tied into the fan positions vacated by the removed canes.

The one-way training method

In the one-way system, fruiting canes are all tied to one side of the support — say, the right side. New primocanes are trained and tied to the left side as they grow. After harvest, the right-side canes are cut out, and the left-side canes become next year's fruiting canes, moved across to the right. The new primocanes are then trained to the left. This simple rotation keeps old and new wood completely separate throughout the season.