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Rubus NAVAHO® ‘Bigandearly’ 13cm

€11,90

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Early upright blackberry · thornless · very large black fruit

Rubus NAVAHO® ‘Bigandearly’

Making its mark from July — and without thorns 🍇

Family: Rosaceae · Pot diameter: 13cm · organically grown · Height: approximately 40–45cm

  • Thornless
  • Early July harvest
  • Very large glossy fruit
  • Upright growth 2–3m

Rubus NAVAHO® ‘Bigandearly’ brings large, glossy black berries to upright, thornless canes. The fruit ripens in a concentrated July crop, with sweet, juicy flesh ready for immediate enjoyment. Its deep-black colour stands out clearly among green leaves and gives the edible garden a rich summer display. It is a choice that combines impressive fruit, easy access for picking and the natural character of a blackberry. The change from red young fruit to glossy black berries creates a little succession of colours along the same fruiting laterals.

Its upright habit draws a clear line at the back of an edible garden. On a support, large black berries stand out among the leaves to create a striking seasonal backdrop, with easy access for summer picking.

What makes it special

‘Bigandearly’ combines early timing with very large fruit and the practical upright thornless habit of the NAVAHO® line.

Large and early

Glossy fruit ripens in a concentrated period during July.

Thornless

Tying, pruning and picking remain comfortable even near a daily path.

Upright NAVAHO® habit

Strong canes stand more vertically than a classic trailing blackberry.

Why you will love it: It combines the spectacle of very large black fruit with safe picking and early enjoyment.

In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsA sunny narrow row with high wires and easy access on both sides.
Planting position

Ideal position

Plant in full sun at 1–1.5m spacing with firm support to about 2m. In hot regions keep roots deeply mulched.

Colour & compatibility

Compatible combinations

Aromatic, flowering and drought-tolerant low plants brighten the crown without obstructing new canes.

  • Lavandula angustifolia — Silver foliage and purple flowers frame the bright row.
  • Salvia nemorosa — Vertical purple spikes echo the rhythm of upright canes.
  • Geranium sanguineum — Low pink groundcover fills the front edge without entering the crown.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun for sweetness and cane ripening; light afternoon shade only during heatwaves.

Water

Even moisture from flowering until the end of harvest.

Climate & hardiness

Good winter hardiness to about −20°C, with protection from cold drying wind.

Safety

Wash fully ripe fruit before eating.

Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.

Soil & roots

Plant in deep fertile soil that drains well yet stays cool. Add organic mulch around the roots without covering the cane bases.

Watering

Water deeply when the top few centimetres dry. Even moisture from flowering to harvest helps fruit fill uniformly.

Support & shape

Fan 4–6 fruiting canes over three wires and train new canes vertically in the centre.

Feeding

In early spring add mature compost and a balanced fruit-plant feed according to its label. Avoid excess nitrogen.

Summer care

Mulch the roots, remove weeds by hand and pick frequently. During prolonged heat, provide light afternoon shade.

Prevent problems

Remove fruited canes immediately after harvest, keep gaps and do not let large fruit become overripe.

From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.

Pollination

It is self-fertile and crops alone. Abundant insect activity helps large berries develop evenly.

When it ripens

It ripens early and in a concentrated July period, often ahead of other upright blackberries.

How to harvest

Pick when fruit is fully black, glossy, slightly soft and releases without a hard pull.

Fruit protection

Stretch netting over a tall separate frame before the first fruit turns black and leave a side door.

After planting: tie the main cane vertically and do not shorten its tip before it reaches the final support height.

Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantImmediately after harvest, with winter tidying of laterals
When to prune

Cut old ‘Bigandearly’ canes out at the base once their summer harvest is complete. Identify and secure the current season’s canes, which will flower and fruit next year. In late winter, arrange the laterals and remove dead or damaged sections. Work according to the succession of old and new wood, rather than cutting every cane to one uniform height.

‘Bigandearly’ fruits on last year’s canes. After July remove entire fruited canes at the base and spread strong new canes into their place.

01
Build

New upright cane

New upright caneTrain 4–6 new canes vertically in the centre. Retain their full length to the top wire.
Train 4–6 new canes vertically in the centre.

Action: Train 4–6 new canes vertically in the centre.

Retain: Retain their full length to the top wire.

02
Train

Open fruiting fan

Open fruiting fanSpread last year’s canes left and right and shorten only overlong laterals in winter. Retain short laterals with visible fruit buds.
Spread last year’s canes left and right and shorten only overlong laterals in winter.

Action: Spread last year’s canes left and right and shorten only overlong laterals in winter.

Retain: Retain short laterals with visible fruit buds.

03
Renew

Change after July

Change after JulyCut brown fruited canes low as soon as picking ends. Spread green new canes over the vacant wires.
Cut brown fruited canes low as soon as picking ends.

Action: Cut brown fruited canes low as soon as picking ends.

Retain: Spread green new canes over the vacant wires.

New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point

Clean tools

Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.

Winter check

Retie the fan and shorten laterals only enough to keep the passage clear.

Do not do this: Do not cut new green canes with the brown ones after harvest; they are next year’s crop.

Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.

New vertical bundle

Strong green canes rise in the centre of the support.

Last year’s fan

Brown canes open across wires and fill with short fruiting laterals.

Early large fruit

Very large blackberries ripen in a concentrated July period.

Mature habit & dimensions

Mature form in 2–3 years
Height 2–3mSpread 0.8–1.2mUpright thornless fan
Habit and dimensions — Rubus NAVAHO® ‘Bigandearly’Distinct basal stems, leafy side shoots and fruit attached to the branching framework.Height 2–3mSpread 0.8–1.2m

Distinct basal stems, leafy side shoots and fruit attached to the branching framework.

Form through the seasons

New cane this year · early fruit next July
NAVAHO®ThornlessConcentrated ripening
Two generations of canesPrevious-season canes are retained while new ones grow for the following year.Two generations of canes

Previous-season canes are retained while new ones grow for the following year.

Summer fruitPrevious-season canes fruit on side shoots; new canes remain for the next cycle.Summer fruit

Previous-season canes fruit on side shoots; new canes remain for the next cycle.

The two views follow the same natural growth cycle.

What to expect after planting: Strong green canes rise in the centre of the support.

History & originCultivar originThe story behind its distinctive character.

‘Bigandearly’ belongs to Lubera’s Navaho® series of upright, thornless blackberries. Its name condenses the two characteristics that distinguish it within the series: large fruit and early ripening. The first harvest is placed in early July, with most production following during the same month.

Upright growth and the absence of thorns retain the blackberry’s generous character in a more approachable garden form. Among the selections in the series, ‘Bigandearly’ emphasises the beginning of the season: the first large black berries ripening as summer reaches its full rhythm.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour

In a blackberry, the receptacle comes with the fruit

When a ripe blackberry is picked, the little drupelets come away together with the fleshy receptacle supporting them. The fruit therefore remains filled at its centre. In a raspberry, the receptacle stays on the plant and leaves a cavity. This distinction concerns the separation of floral structures, rather than simply whether the fruit is black or red.

Upright growth with renewing canes

An upright ‘Bigandearly’ cane still has a limited lifespan, even when it becomes tall and woody. Summer fruit is produced on lateral shoots carried by the previous year’s canes. After fruiting, these complete their cycle while new canes take over the next crop. The enduring perennial structure is the base of the plant.

Frequently asked questions

Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.

01Does it need another plant?

It is self-fertile and crops alone. Abundant insect activity helps large berries develop evenly.

02How large does it become?

2–3m high and approximately 0.8–1.2m wide, with the habit described above.

03Is it suitable for a container?

Yes, in a very large container of 60 litres or more, with a heavy stable frame to 2m.

04When is the fruit picked?

During July, when fruit is fully black, slightly soft and releases without a hard pull.

05Is it completely thornless?

The canes are classed as thornless, making tying and picking much more comfortable.

06When should it be pruned?

Immediately after harvest remove brown fruited canes and spread new ones over the wires.

© Original plant description by Greenleaf Garden Center. All rights reserved.

Foliage, density, flowers and fruit change naturally through the year. This product is supplied in a 13cm pot at approximately 40–45cm tall and is organically grown.

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