Blackberry sucker growth...remove or not

[dingerbell]

My Blackberry bushes, panted last year and now growing nicely along my fence have started to grow suckers from the base of the plant. They look nice and healthy. Should I remove them in the way I remove Rose suckers or are they just this year's new growth?

[dingerbell]

[quizzical1]

Last October I took over my allotment, and there was a patch (well overgrown) of thornless blackberries. I cut them down to ground level during the autumn, and they are now regrowing from the bottom.
I would say that what you have is this years new growth, so I would leave it.

You may also consider cutting back some of the old growth after fruiting?

[jennym]

Don't cut off the new stems if you want blackberries next year.
Blackberries fruit best on stems grown the previous year. When these stems have finished fruiting, then cut them down to ground level and leave the new stems. These new stems will be the ones that fruit in 2008.