Blackberry pest and disease with pictures, identification and treatment

Grow Blackberry Varieties

Blackberry Pests and Diseases

CAUSE

SYMPTOMS

At first, red spots appear on the top of the blackberry leaves, followed by yellow spots on the underside of the leaves, eventually turning black.

Aphids (green/black fly)

Lots of small black or green insects especially concentrated around tender new blackberry shoots.

Cane Spot

Circular dark purple spots on the blackberry stems which start to appear in early summer.

Botryitis (mould)

Brown spots on the blackberry stems which get bigger as the disease progresses. Grey mould eventually forms

Mildew

A light grey powdery substance appears mainly on the stems, but spreads to the leaves and possibly the fruit.

Raspberry Beetle

Fruit is shriveled up, dry and smaller than normal.

Spur Blight

In August, dark purple spots appear. these become bigger and turn silver with black spots.

Larger pests are also often a problem with blackberries and other fruit. The main problem pests are birds, mice, rabbits, squirrels and the like. The only effective solution is a fruit cage.

Click here to see a range of excellent quality and good value walk-in, heavy duty steel fruit cages.

Other walk-in fruit cages are available by clicking on the descriptions below:
Decorative Steel Fruit Cage
Aluminium Fruit Cage, by far the best on the market in its class!
Timber Fruit Cage, for a more rugged natural look

Smaller fruit cages are also available below:
Steel Vegetable and Strawberry Cage, stands 1.2m high above ground
Steel Freestanding Veg and Strawberry Cage, easily moved around
Aluminium Vegetable Cage - the cost effective option

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Name: Ray Bright
E-mail: rfbright@gmail.com
Date posted: August 31, 2011 - 09:50 am
Message: I've started a bush in a 150ltr. container, as I am planning to move. Winter is upon us in Pennsylvania, and I don't how to treat this bush for a healthy winter-overing. Will my container suffice? Winter strategy?
Ray

Name: Karen
E-mail: kpc6706@yahoo.com
Date posted: August 18, 2011 - 12:06 am
Message: I planted 2 blackberry plants in 2009 , one died back soon afterwards , so one was left , last summer it bloomed (2010) & I had a small amount of berries early and it grew like crazy . In fact it got so crazy that last fall I cut most of it back with the intent of putting up a trelas but never got it up. This year it grew & spread all over the place and never bloomed or friuted , it just has become a crazy mess of huge thorn branches and i am at a loss of what to do . PLease give me some advice, thank you .

Name: Doris
E-mail: dotjim40@yahoo.com
Date posted: July 16, 2011 - 04:11 pm
Message: I am having the same problem as tj just posted... tame blackberries with white discoloration on the berry making berries not juicy with lots of seeds. Please feel free to email me if you know anything about this. Thanks

Name: tj
E-mail: tjlenich@yahoo.com
Date posted: June 09, 2011 - 09:38 am
Message: I have large blackberries about 2 inches long. When the berries rippen they arnt sweet and have discoleration sort of a white spots,is there anyone out there that knows what the problem is? Please help

Name: Bob
E-mail: bhattich@gmail.com
Date posted: May 10, 2011 - 05:51 pm
Message: Last Summer some of our Triple Crown blackberries had maggots in the ripe fruit.This year I notice a small beetle (1/16-1/8" long) in the bloom. Are these relateted to the maggots and hat will kill them without harming the quality of the fruit?

Name: Amie
E-mail: Private
Date posted: May 07, 2011 - 11:31 am
Message: I need help in determining if I have an invasive "look a like" weed growing among my blackberries. It grows straight up on thick stalk, the leaves are shaped the same way, but are a lighter shade of green and look shinier. All three of my plants have this growing up the center of their root area. Is this part of my plant, or should I remove it?? HELP!

Name: Carol
E-mail: Private
Date posted: December 28, 2010 - 12:18 pm
Message: The fruit of my blackberries has multiple gray areas that never ripen. The remainder of the berry ripens. What is causing the discoloration? Thanks

Name: Karen
E-mail: lwillson2@charter.net
Date posted: November 27, 2010 - 02:51 pm
Message: I have a bush that we put in this past summer that is beginning to loo more like a vine than a bush. It bore us only a half ozen berries this year and those disappeared so quickly I can't remeber which branch produced them. We have had a couple of days of below freezing temperatures now, so how should I prune this plant for the winter and should it be mulched? I have been unable to find anything online and since your site was the most informative I am apealing to you for this advice.

THANKS
St. Louis, MO

Name: ALVIN SONNENBERG
E-mail: Private
Date posted: September 11, 2010 - 07:54 pm
Message: It appears that I have emailed you with a question before about black berries. Is it necessary to cover them in Wisconsin winters? I had a good crop this year. I have 35 lbs in freezer to make wine this winter.