Anyone Grow Bramble/BlackBerry?

[Dynamite]

I want to grow Bramble but think it might be invasive. Any advice?

Kind Regards.............Rob

[SarrissUK]

I have loads - please come and help yourself!

Actually, on the green in front of our allotment site, there's a patch of blackberries that are absolutely huge and delicious. If I could replace what I have on the plot with those, I wouldn't moan so much when they spread, catch me as I walk past and rip holes in my clothes. lol

[Jay-ell]

I pull up the suckers whenever I see them. I have two plants growing either side of an arch and they look great when in flower. I keep 3 stems each and pull the rest when pop up.

[Gman]

I want to grow Bramble but think it might be invasive. Any advice?

Kind Regards.............Rob

If you’re worried about this I could suggest the variety loch maree. If it is anything like the one I planted by a wall 2 years ago it’ll never get more than a foot tall.... if mine doesn’t do better this year, it’s coming out.

[fishpond]

Thornless varieties are not so invasive as the rest of the tribe, in fact Oregon thornless are pretty slow to do much of anything.
Ashton cross is a thorny variety I have, and that is starting to gallop after 2 years.
A true wild bramble, which has been here for at least 30 years has enveloped a greenhouse and 2 ponds, but holds an amazing amount of wild birds.
Taste test
1) Bramble
2) Ashton cross
3) Oregon thornless, but you dont get ripped to shreds.
The order of taste is also a good indicator of vigour.
Hope this helps

[greenishfing]

I have 3 small BlackBerry bushes. They have been in for 3 years now. I can't remember the variety. They are definitely non-invasive. They are rubbish with very few fruit and have not earned their space. But I have a wild bush that appeared and grows down my hedge. That would get out of control if I let it. It has large sweet fruit.

[Snoop Puss]

I don't grow brambles, they grow themselves. And they are a menace if you don't keep them strictly in check.

I made a mistake and allowed a few to grow because they were home to a family of sparrows. We now have about 40 sparrows in that patch and a family of redstarts has just moved in this spring. The patch is now about 12 square metres... It's not as if we don't have a tennis court's worth of brambles elsewhere.

[Thelma Sanders]

I grow Oregon Thornless, up my shed, it doesn't seem to sucker as madly as other types, so easy to keep under control, if you've got wires or trellis to tie it up to.

On my last plot I grew a Boysenberry (also thornless) and that was easily controlled, as well.

[burnie]

The thornless are great cooked, but not so nice fresh when I'm scrumping in the garden, the wild snaggy bramble is so much tastier, all be it the fruits are smaller on the bramble.

[Babru]

I grow Oregon Thornless, up my shed, it doesn't seem to sucker as madly as other types, so easy to keep under control, if you've got wires or trellis to tie it up to.

On my last plot I grew a Boysenberry (also thornless) and that was easily controlled, as well.

Is it worth growing for flavour Thelma?

[Babru]

Is it worth growing for flavour Thelma?

Just looked up Boysenberry. I know James Wong gets a bit of a bad press on here sometimes, but it sounds like might be a good alternative to a thorny tasty bramble, or a thornless and (possibly) tasteless bramble....https://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...-a-boysenberry

[Snoop Puss]

I've never had boysenberries. But I have had tayberries. Delumptious.

[Thelma Sanders]

Is it worth growing for flavour Thelma?

Well, I like the taste of them, that's why I planted one - I really wish I'd dug it up and brought it with me to the new plot, maybe I can scrounge a tip cutting (they root easily) or else buy another one this winter.