How to Acclimate Blackberry Plants

Acclimate (ac·cli·mate): "To become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions. Also to harden off a plant."

Acclimating blackberry plants helps to avoid stress to new plants and transplants. It is our strong recommendation for plants that are leafed out and not dormant. Some of our blackberry plants arrive to you potted with tender new growth, since they were grown in the controlled environment of our greenhouses. This tender new growth can be sensitive to things like direct sunlight and sudden changes in temperature, so acclimating blackberry plants to their new environment will help provide them with a great start.

Bare-root plants do not require acclimation and can be planted immediately in the ground or growing container.

NOTE: This is part 2 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow blackberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.

Acclimation Steps for Potted Plants

Things that may cause injury to tender new growth in transplants:

  • temperatures (below 50ºF or above 90ºF)
  • frost snaps
  • strong/direct sunlight
  • wind

If you receive new plants or trees from Stark Bro’s in a pot that have already begun to grow tender, leafy foliage, it’s likely that they were cultivated in our greenhouses. To ensure these plants and trees are acclimatized (or hardened off) before planting outdoors, we recommend following these steps:

  • Once your plants and trees arrive, unbox them and leave them in the pots they arrived in. Place them in a semi-shaded spot outdoors, such as a back porch, for a day or so. Then, move them to a sunnier area. While you should water your plants upon arrival, it’s also essential to allow the soil to dry out to promote the hardening-off process.
  • Keep an eye on the foliage; if you notice signs of leaf injury before planting, move those plants or trees to a more shaded area with filtered sunlight and protection from harsh winds. Adequate air movement is crucial for hardening off the plant outdoors. Cool air helps toughen the tender new growth, but bring plants back inside at night if temperatures are expected to drop to or below freezing.
  • After acclimating your plants and trees for 2-3 days, and if the weather conditions are suitable, you can plant them in their permanent location outdoors. Your new plants and trees should be able to handle conditions, provided that soil temperatures remain above 50ºF. Planting on a cloudy day will typically yield the best results.

It’s worth noting that these are general recommendations. Your specific growing environment may require some slight adjustments to these guidelines since different plants may take more or less time to harden off. External factors such as weather conditions, individual plants, and your location can also impact the process. If outdoor conditions are too harsh, it’s best to keep your potted plants near a sunny window, water them, and treat them like houseplants. You can then begin the process of hardening off your plants when the weather improves.

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