The floricanes (summer-bearing 2nd year growth) of the earlier ripening varieties will generally avoid activity from the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), a fruit fly from Asia that can penetrate slightly underripe fruit with thin skin, such as blackberries.  Primocane-bearing varieties will also produce on first year growth, but the berries ripen late in the season.

The cane borer is another pest that is fairly common.  The raspberry cane borer will puncture two rings roughly 0.5 inches apart near the top of the plant.  The eggs are laid within the area, and the damage causes the top to wilt.  The rednecked cane borer generally targets the lower portion of the primocane, and their larva will cause a gall to form.  More information about cane borers can be found on the raspberry page.

While there are cold hardy blackberry species, only a few selections are capable of thriving in zone 5 or lower.  Some of them include 'Balsors Hardy', 'Fort Kent King', 'Nelson', and 'Sylvan', but very little is known about them.  A few others are listed below.