Botanical	Rubus fruticosus 'Triple Crown'
Family	Rosaceae
Size	1 YR #1
Height	3-5'
Spacing	3-5'
Hardiness	Zones 5-9
Exposure	Full sun to partial shade
Foliage	Green
Fruit	Large, deep blue to black
Harvest	August - September

General Characteristics: 'Triple Crown' is a semi-erect, thornless blackberry cultivar. Good freezing quality. Suited for any grower. This is a self-fruitful, free-standing, thornless shrub that produces one crop of fruit per year. Clusters of white, 5-petaled, rose-like flowers in spring give way to firm, glossy blackberries of excellent eating quality that mature in summer. Although the flowers are attractive, this blackberry is grown primarily as a food crop and it not considered appropriate for ornamental use. Blackberries fruit on two-year old canes. After they have finished fruiting, the canes should be pruned away at the base. The fruit attracts birds. The brown thrasher, gray catbird, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, and white-eyed vireo commonly nest in blackberry and raspberry thickets. Flowers attract butterflies, notably the western tiger swallowtail. Although the flowers are attractive, this blackberry is grown primarily as a fruit crop and is not considered appropriate for ornamental use.

Planting Instructions: May be planted in any well-drained soil. Dig a hole large enough to encompass the roots without bending or circling. Set the plant in place so the crown (part of the plant where the roots meet the stem) is about 1-2" below the soil surface. Cover with soil to the original soil surface and water thoroughly. Roots are shallow – don't cultivate more than an inch deep. Fertilize at planting and again in late spring. Choose a sunny site in your garden with good air circulation, water drainage, and a pH of 6.0-7.0. Keep roots moist until planting. Work plenty of organic matter into the soil and mulch to keep out weeds. Plant as soon as the soil has warmed. Trim canes to encourage new growth. Plants should be set out at least 2 feet apart in rows 7 feet apart. Trellising is beneficial for cane support. These summer-bearing berries produce fruit on second year canes (floricanes). In the fall of the 2nd year, prune spent canes at ground level and thin others to approximately 4 canes per foot of row. Cut off suckers which grow outside of rows. Trim remaining blackberry canes to 7 feet.

Pests or Diseases: 'Triple Crown' blackberry plants can experience anthracnose, botrytis and verticillium wilt. Cane borers and crown borers are potential insect pests.