thorniest fruit for high fence

[crichmond]

Hi All

Whats the thorniest fruit (sharpest and lots of them for the vandals) that I can get to climb up or fasten up on a 10ft fence preferably one that will spread acroos it as well as fast growing.

Cheers Chris

[Paul Wagland]

Blackberries would be a good choice, if you get an old fashioned one which hasn't been bred with a lack of thorns.

How fussed are you about the fruit? You could get a dog rose and use the hips to make jelly? Fast growing and vicious!

[gardenplot]

I would also like to be in on this one, any good tips will be appreciated
The only one i can think of is gooseberries or raspberries that have thorns on or climbing roses

[lainey lou]

I agree with Paul, Blackberries - fast growing and prickly buggers! Plus the added bonus of lots of lovely fruit!

[HeyWayne]

Blackberries every time.

Not a fruiter, but bladdy viscious is the hawthorn we have growing along the side of our house. Many a time whilst pruning have I had the odd thorn embedded in my hand (through the gloves).

[gardenplot]

well thats me sorted, gonna get some Blackberries round my plot

[Paul Wagland]

Blackberries every time.

Not a fruiter, but bladdy viscious is the hawthorn we have growing along the side of our house. Many a time whilst pruning have I had the odd thorn embedded in my hand (through the gloves).

You can eat the haws I think, and the young sprouty bits, when it first comes into leaf.

Need to check this though. Anyone got Food For Free handy?

[SarzWix]

You can definately eat the haws (berries) they make a reasonable jelly, and the new shoots - all our hedgerows round here are hawthorn
Another good sharp hedging plant is blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa) & you get sloes

[HeyWayne]

You can definately eat the haws (berries) they make a reasonable jelly, and the new shoots - all our hedgerows round here are hawthorn
Another good sharp hedging plant is blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa) & you get sloes

Well I never! I'll have to look into that (the hawthorn bit). Cheers Paul & Sarz.

[veg4681]

Yes blackberry of course. Gooseberry are also thorny but I'm not sure if they're able to grow high enough for your needs. Then there's Tayberry, I know they're thorny as you can buy a thornless version.

I would go for Blackberry, Tayberry and Raspberry if there is such thing as thorny variety.

[Madasafish]

I have Himalayan Giant Blackberries. 3 metres tall, VERY thorny and nice fruit.

[smallblueplanet]

You can definately eat the haws (berries) they make a reasonable jelly, and the new shoots - all our hedgerows round here are hawthorn
Another good sharp hedging plant is blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa) & you get sloes

Sloes gets my vote too. Sloe gin, mmmmmm

[southlondongardener]

Raspberries have thorns but they are not very thorny. Also they need pruning down to the ground once a year !

On garderners question time they recommend worcester berry which are a black currant like gooseberry but with a lot more thorns than gooseberries !

[Madasafish]

Pyracantha has red berries and thorns 2cms long. Birds love it.

The thorns are very sharp and hard... pruning is painful.

[Paul Wagland]

Pyracantha has red berries and thorns 2cms long. Birds love it.

I've often wondered if the berries are edible, but I would guess not...?