Prime-Ark® Freedom Blackberry: Trimming and Maintenance for Better Fruit Production

The Prime-Ark Freedom blackberry is a primocane-fruiting variety, meaning it produces fruit on the current season's canes (primocanes) as well as the following year's canes (floricanes). Here are some key points on pruning this variety from the search results:

Pruning Primocanes (Current Season's Canes)

During the summer, the primocanes can be "tipped" or topped by pruning off the top few inches once they reach the desired height. This encourages lateral branching and a more compact plant.[4]
No other summer pruning is typically needed for this semi-erect thornless variety.[3]

Pruning Floricanes (Next Season's Fruiting Canes)

In late winter/early spring before bud break, tie the floricanes to a trellis system. The lateral branches can be pruned back to 10-12 inches at this time.[3]
After the floricane crop is harvested, remove all the old floricanes by cutting them off at ground level.[3]
Thin out the new primocanes, leaving 4-8 of the strongest, most vigorous canes per plant to become next year's floricanes.[3]

The #Prime-ArkFreedom produces an abundant primocane crop in late summer/fall, followed by a floricane crop in early summer of the next year. Proper pruning and trellising is important to manage growth, increase yields, and improve fruit quality.[3][4] A trellis system is highly recommended for this vigorous, erect variety.

Sources
[1] #PrimeArkFreedomBlackberry - Edible Landscaping https://ediblelandscaping.com/product...
[2] Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry Plant - Nourse Farms https://noursefarms.com/product/prime...
[3] Blackberries Part I | Piedmont Master Gardeners https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/a...
[4] Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden - OSU Extension Service https://extension.oregonstate.edu/cat...
[5] Blackberry and Raspberry Culture for the Home Garden https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sh...

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Additional information:


Here are a couple additional authoritative sources on pruning the Prime-Ark Freedom blackberry:

University of Arkansas Extension

The Prime-Ark Freedom was developed by the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program. Their extension service provides these pruning tips:

In late winter, prune out any weak or dead canes. Tie remaining canes to a trellis.
After the floricane crop is harvested in early summer, remove all the old floricanes by cutting them off at ground level.
Allow 4-8 of the new primocanes to grow for next year's crop. Tip the primocanes when they reach 3-4 feet tall to encourage branching.

Oregon State University Extension

While not specific to Prime-Ark Freedom, OSU provides general pruning advice for primocane-fruiting blackberries that applies:

In late winter, thin out canes leaving 5-6 vigorous primocanes per plant. Prune off lateral branches on these primocanes.
After floricane harvest, remove all the dead floricanes.
In summer, tip the new primocanes when they reach 3-4 feet tall to encourage branching and increase yield.

The key points are tipping/pruning primocanes in summer to encourage branching, removing spent floricanes after harvest, selecting and trellising the new primocanes for next year's crop. Proper pruning maximizes yields on this unique primocane-fruiting blackberry variety.

Sources
[1] Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry - Edible Landscaping https://ediblelandscaping.com/product...
[2] Pruning Prime Ark Freedom Blackberries - YouTube    • Pruning Prime Ark Freedom Blackberries  
[3] Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry | PlantAddicts.com https://plantaddicts.com/prime-ark-fr...
[4] Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry Plant - Nourse Farms https://noursefarms.com/product/prime...
[5] Pruning Prime Ark Freedom blackberries - General Fruit Growing https://growingfruit.org/t/pruning-pr...