One of the sweetest blackberries around, Ponca produces abundant yields of large, luscious fruits, with excellent berry to berry consistency. The fruits have a tremendous aromatic profile and a sub-acid flavor that complements the sweetness. They store well, retaining their shiny black color with little reddening of the cells. A thornless floricane variety, Ponca fruits only on second-year canes; and since it has no thorns, it’s easy to harvest. It’s one of the earliest varieties to ripen, with a primary crop in midsummer and a secondary crop 14 to 20 days later, depending on your climate. Berries are ready to harvest when they are deep black and separate easily from the plant. Although the plant doesn’t require staking, a trellis or support of some kind will make caring for and harvesting the plant easier. Easy to grow, blackberry bushes grow best in sunny sites with at least 6 hours of bright sunlight each day and rich, moist, well-draining soil having an acidic pH. Photo courtesy of Wayside.
Blackberry ‘Ponca’ (Rubus hybrid)
Description
One of the sweetest blackberries around, Ponca produces abundant yields of large, luscious fruits, with excellent berry to berry consistency. The fruits have a tremendous aromatic profile and a sub-acid flavor that complements the sweetness. They store well, retaining their shiny black color with little reddening of the cells. A thornless floricane variety, Ponca fruits only on second-year canes; and since it has no thorns, it’s easy to harvest. It’s one of the earliest varieties to ripen, with a primary crop in midsummer and a secondary crop 14 to 20 days later, depending on your climate. Berries are ready to harvest when they are deep black and separate easily from the plant. Although the plant doesn’t require staking, a trellis or support of some kind will make caring for and harvesting the plant easier. Easy to grow, blackberry bushes grow best in sunny sites with at least 6 hours of bright sunlight each day and rich, moist, well-draining soil having an acidic pH. Photo courtesy of Wayside.
