Youngberry – 20 Seeds

The Youngberry is a variety of blackberry that is botanically classified as Rubus caesius. It is a hybrid that resulted from the cross of a specific blackberry variety called “Phenomenal” (a Blackberry-Raspberry cross) and a Mayes Dewberry. Youngberries were developed in 1905 by the famous fruit grower, Byrnes M. Young. While working in Morgan city, Louisiana, he encountered numerous failures in breeding another blackberry cultivar, the loganberry. After corroborating with Luther Burbank, who had created the ‘Phenomenal’ blackberry–raspberry hybrid, he decided to cross it with a dewberry and had immediate success. The Youngberry was born and subsequently introduced to commercial markets in 1926.

They are especially prized by berry growers because they typically ripen up to 2 weeks earlier than most other blackberry varieties. They berries have a solid core surrounded by fleshy drupes that are extremely fragile and larger than those of other blackberries. They are spherical to oblong with a tapering conical shape and turn a deep purplish-black when ripe. The berries are sweeter and more succulent than other blackberry varieties with a delicate texture bursting with juiciness.

It is a deciduous shrub that normally grows about 2 m tall with biennial stems which die after fruiting in their second year. The stems are thorny with irregular sized prickles, greenish-yellow to brown. Alternate leaves are hairy above and below. The fruit start off green when young, turning to deep red and finally dark purplish black when ripe.

Growing Youngberry

• The seeds need to be stratified before planting.
• Place the seeds in a resealable plastic bag along with a handful of damp peat moss. Seal the bag, and place in a refrigerator.
• Keep the seeds chilled for 12 to 16 weeks.
• Fill seed trays with seed starter soil, and spread the blackberry seeds on top of the soil.
• Lightly cover the seeds with soil, and place in a warm area.
• Seed germination does not require bright light since the seeds are covered with soil.
• Mist the soil with water in a spray bottle whenever the soil begins to dry out.
• Once seedlings begin to sprout, move the tray to an area with bright light.
• When transplanting into the garden, select a planting area in full to partial sun.
• The plant prefers light, medium and heavy soils, slightly acidic to basic and well-drained soil
• Spread a layer of well-rotted compost over the planting area and work the compost into the top 8 inches of soil. This gives the plants a good source of slow-release nutrients. Smooth the soil with a rake.
• Dig holes with a hand trowel only as deep and wide as the seedlings’ root balls.
• Place the seedlings in the holes, and fill with soil.
• Gently firm the soil around the brambles so that they stand up.
• Water the soil around the base of the plants until it is slightly muddy.
• Give the berry plants 1 inch of water each week when there is no rainfall during the summer.
• Mulching benefits Youngberry bushes by reducing weed growth, slowing soil moisture evaporation and providing slow-release nutrients. Keep the mulch layer thick throughout the life of the bushes.
• Can be successfully grown in containers as well.