Although I have never been known as a Green Thumb, when my 4 year old asked if we could have our own garden, I felt a parental - and eco – obligation to make it happen. As we talked about all the things we might like to grow, I had a flashback to my childhood and filling buckets with berries that grew wild on our back fence. We had so much fun picking then and could devour a whole bowl in one sitting at our picnic table. 

So, I did a little research, and was happy to find out that blackberries are pretty easy to grow in the Southern region. Before we bought them, I did a little more reading to see what they would require and here is what I found:

• Blackberries aren't picky about their soil, but their roots cannot tolerate sitting in water, so make sure they are in an area with good drainage.
• They need stability, so plant them in an area with a little protection from high winds, like against a fence or near a wall that shelters them from the weather.
• Choose a variety that doesn’t have stickers to keep little gardeners' fingers safe.
• To get the best harvest, avoid trimming or fertilizing. They grow easily in the wild because they like to trail freely. The only thing they will need is occasional watering with our hot, hot summers.

According to my little guy, all plants need to grow is Dirt, Water and Love (aka singing them a song), and love that we actually found something we can grow together that fits those simple parameters. The first time you look out your kitchen window and find your child “loving” their vines, you will have created an unforgettable memory!