Ponca Thornless Blackberry
Rubus ‘Ponca’
Other Names: Sweet Ark Ponca Thornless Blackberry
NOTE: All of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Fruit Bush
Chill Hours: 400-500
Ripening Period: Early Season
Fruit Color: Black
Fruit Size: Very large! (8-9 grams)
Fruit Taste: Very sweet, excellent flavor!
Soluble Sugar: 9-10%
Fruit Size: Very large! (8-9 grams)
Fruit Taste: Very sweet, excellent flavor!
Soluble Sugar: 9-10%
Height at Maturity: 4-6′
Width at Maturity: 6-8′
Growth Habit / Form: Semi-erect
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: White
Foliage Color: Green
Thornless: Yes
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0
Maintenance / Care: Low
Description
The 20th Blackberry variety released by the Arkansas University Division of Agriculture breeding program, ‘Ponca’ is a floricane-fruiting, thornless cultivar that may just be the best to date in terms of flavor and berry-to-berry consistency. Its dependably sweet, low-acid berries grab the attention of all that get to taste the fruit of this new cultivar. Sweetness or tartness is the first thing we notice when biting into a blackberry. No Doubt, Ponca is the sweetest cultivar from the Arkansas program, But as one chews, other fruity flavors begin to emerge. This variety also ranked highest by a significant margin in taste tests conducted by the Division of Agriculture’s Department of Food Science. Ponca’s healthy plants, very high yield, early ripening, long fruiting season, and unique shortened-internode architecture, make it an exceptional choice for local-market production and home gardens.
Because all of our fruit plants and trees are grown and shipped fully rooted in their containers they can be planted year round outdoors.
Growing Preferences
Ponca Thornless Blackberry will produce the best and most berries when growing in full sun. However, where space is limited, a blackberry plant will produce good crops even when grown in shade, which is something no other common fruit plants will do. Blackberries will grow reasonably well in most soil types except for very compacted clay or light chalky soil. In these soils it’ll be worth your time to mix in lots of organic compost to condition the soil and add beneficial nutrients and bacteria plants need to grow healthy. Blackberries grow and produce the best fruit in well-drained but moist fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. They like the soil to hold a good supply of water, especially when the fruits are developing in summer, but not so much water that the soil stays constantly soggy or wet.
NOTE: All of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below for helpful advice from our experts on planting and caring for blackberry bushes.
How To Plant A Blackberry Bush
How To Fertilize & Water Blackberry Bushes
How To Prune And Train Blackberry Bushes
Plant Long & Prosper!
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