Never from cuttings but have had success from seed I just squash the hips put them on top of a pot of garden soil tuck them somewhere out of the way so they get all the weather rain, frost, snow etc and in the spring I have seedlings, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.". Hi grrrrrl, thank you for your comment. I like reducing the size by pruning back the longer of two branches at a junction; it helps the tree keep a natural shape. Buckthorn grows well in hardiness zones 3 through 8, and does best in sandy loam with plenty of organic matter mixed in. Water gently so it is evenly moist. Make the hole slightly larger than the stem diameter. Caution: blackthorn spikes can be over 4 inches (10 cm) long, are very sharp and very strong. Pruning, of course, reduces overall height, but makes up for it by creating a lusher, denser bush. Better than that, blackthorn spreads by suckers to form its dense thickets. 5. Blackthorns are small, deciduous trees also referred to as 'sloe.' They grow in scrubs, thickets, and woodlands in the wild. Select and care for those you wish to keep! Usually it falls off, though, leaving the small stalks to wither. There are several ways to propagate or grow a sloe berry plant to either expand your garden or make a new home for one. Store the cutting, cut end down in moist sawdust or vermiculite for 3-4 weeks in a cool basement, cellar or refrigerator. If you would like to eat the astringent fruits, wait until after they have been exposed to a few frosts, which will make the taste a little less harsh. Dont worry because blackthorn can take severe pruning easily, especially if already 10 years old with a strong root system. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Started by poultrygeist on Grow Your Own. Parts of the shrubs have a whole range of other applications. Gaspard, thank you so much for your fast, informative reply. Thanks to modern medicine, that outcome happens less frequently. Hawthorn trees are a commonly grown garden and landscaping plant. Blackthorns are small, deciduous trees also referred to as sloe. They grow in scrubs, thickets, and woodlands in the wild. The best planting window being fall, say mid-September, it would make sense to start early-to-mid-May which is 20 weeks earlier. From white to pink and even red, flowering, Cherries, apples, pears What a joy it is to harvest the fruits from your own garden! On a seedbed broadcast the seed quite densely - aim for about 5mm between seeds. At the end of the four weeks, the seeds should be placed outside in the pots (after removing the bags!). The sloe or blackthorn is a common plant that has a wide range and is found from Siberia to the Mediterranean and Iran. When to divide sanguisorba Divide sanguisorba in spring, when the plant is growing away quickly. The many good charms of Prunus spinosa, commonly called blackthorn, offset the dark tidings and omens of despair rumored throughout history. DIY Sloe Gin: How To Harvest Sloes And Make Sloe Gin, Hermaphroditic Plant Info: Why Are Some Plants Hermaphrodites, Welcoming Wildlife In The Garden: How To Create A Wildlife Garden, How To Control Weeds In Groundcover Areas Of The Garden, How To Join International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day, How To Make Raisins From Homegrown Grapes, Acacia Tree Care: Information About Acacia Tree Types, Hornbeam Varieties For Landscapes: Hornbeam Care And Growing Info, After Bloom Care Of Daffodil Flowers: Caring For Daffodil Bulbs After Blooming, Drought Resistant Vegetables: Growing Drought Tolerant Vegetables In Gardens, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info.