Winter Injury on Brambles
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Winter injury occurs in thornless blackberries when temperatures drop below 0°F. It has been estimated that 10 percent of a crop is lost for every degree that temperatures drop below 0°F. Low temperatures kill floricanes, but not bramble root systems. Winter injured canes are often colonized by fungal pathogens (diseases). Thorny blackberries and raspberries are considerably hardier than thornless blackberries.
Longitudinal section of a cane with winter injury (right) compared to healthy cane (left).
(Photo: John Strang, University of Kentucky)
Cross-section of winter-injured cane (right) with healthy (left).
(Photo: John Strang, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Select cold hardy cultivars (many new cultivars available).
- Mulch heavily around floricanes to insulate brambles; this is not practical on a large scale.
- Apply nitrogen in spring; avoid excessive amounts, which delay winter hardiness development.
