Berries- Sweetening

Q: Last year I tried my luck at growing ‘Apache’ and ‘Kiowa’ blackberries and had great results. However, the berries are not all that sweet. Is there anything I can do to make the berries sweeter?

A: Both of these varieties were developed by the University of Arkansas and deliver very large berries. ‘Apache ‘ is thornless but ‘Kiowa’ is a real blood-letter. The usual garden mantra is that “more sun equals more sugar” for fruits. However, I’ll admit that I’m not impressed with the sweetness, in full sun, of my ‘Kiowa’ blackberries unless the fruit is soft and overripe. On the other hand, the fruit is huge. I recommend you dust your berries with powdered sugar or apply whipped cream before enjoying them for dessert.