Marion' is a trailing deciduous shrub with long, sparse, spiny, lax canes bearing pinnate, wrinkled, mid-green leaves and white flowers in spring followed by globular to conical, glossy, edible, sweet, dark red to black fruit ready for harvest in early to midsummer. The marionberry is a vigorously growing trailing vine, usually producing just a few canes up to 20 feet long. The vines have many large spines, and the fruiting laterals are long and strong, producing many berries. The berry is glossy and, as with many blackberries, appears black on the plant, but turns a deep, dark purple when frozen and thawed. It is medium in size and tends to be conical, longer than it is wide. The berry has a somewhat tart flavor, fairly earthy with traces of sweetness. It is larger, sweeter and juicier than the 'Evergreen' blackberry. The relative complexity of its flavor has led to a marketing label as the "Cabernet of Blackberries". The more powerful flavor of the marionberry has led to it dominating current blackberry production.
Marionberry Care
Rubus 'marion'
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Humidity
Normal
Lighting
Part Sun
Hardiness zone
7 - 9
Difficulty
Medium
Hibernation
Cold Period
How to Care for the Plant
Water
Mulch the soil with wood chips, straw or grass clippings to minimize weed growth. Water marionberries at least once per week, or as needed to keep the soil evenly moist 2 inches beneath the surface. Adequate moisture is especially critical from the time of flowering until harvest.
Pruning
Marionberries have long, trailing canes that can grow 20 feet or more in one season. To control their growth, install a sturdy trellis before you plant the berries. The trellis should have two sturdy posts at either end and two or three stiff wires stretched between the posts and placed about 3 feet from the ground. The top of the trellis should sit 4 to 6 feet from the ground. To train marionberries, prune out all the floricanes after harvest. These are the two-year-old canes that just produced fruit. Remove all but six to 12 of the healthiest primocanes -- or new canes -- from each plant, cutting the canes back to the ground. Wrap the ends of the remaining primocanes around the wires so they're secure. Marionberries are thorny plants. Wear leather gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants as you work.
Fertilizer
Marionberries need adequate amounts of nitrogen fertilizer to perform well. Spread 2 pounds of urea fertilizer per 100 feet of row over the area in spring as new growth emerges. Make a second application of 2 pounds of urea fertilizer over the area in June. Small pale or yellow leaves usually indicate a nitrogen deficiency.
Sunlight
Marionberries, like most blackberry varieties, will tolerate partial shade, but they grow best in full sun. Plant them in a location that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily for the best fruit production.
Soil
Marionberries are tolerant of most soil types so long as they drain well. Spread 2 bushels of compost or manure per 100 square feet of row and till it in to a depth of 12 inches before planting. Peat moss, dried leaves and chopped hay can also be used to improve drainage and soil texture. If your soil is very heavy or has a high water table, try growing marionberries in raised beds.
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