Blackberries

[w33blegurl]

Morning all

Hope its sunny for everyone today!! My OH has decided he wants blackberries in the garden....which is fine we have a space for them, I just dont know much about them so was hoping for some advice! I had a look on T&M website as an initial rekky but where I thought they would be similar to rasps and be sold in canes they are sold as rather expensive single plants in pots. So what sort of habit do they have? Do they need a support like rasps or are they more bushy and self supporting?

I definitely want to get a thornless variety - any recommendations?

Thanks!!!

[Capsid]

I have a thornless variety and I grow it on wire suspended between to upright stakes about 2 metres tall and 3 metres apart. It grows very vigorously and fills the area of the support frame, so support is essential. Mine is in a partially shaded site and doesn't need much attention; easy to grow. I can't remember which variety I have.

[w33blegurl]

Thanks, so sounds like I'd only need a single bush judging by the spacings of your posts which is about the same space as I have got!

[Capsid]

Thanks, so sounds like I'd only need a single bush judging by the spacings of your posts which is about the same space as I have got!

Yes , a single plant is all you will need. It's not really a bush because it will ramble for up to 5 metres or more. In the winter, cut back to the ground the stems that produce the fruit this year (you may not get much this year) and tie in this year's growth that shots from the base, for next year's fruit.

[Alison]

There was a thread on varieties a couple of months ago and quite a few of us are of the opinion that the thornless ones aren't generally as tasty. Try a search and fingers crossed you'll find it

[w33blegurl]

Thanks, will do a search for that...I had started to gather that from a couple of things I'd read....just hoping I'd save my fingers

[womble]

There's a wealth of them in the countryside, personally I grow stuff that you can't pick in the fields.
If you have blackberries around you why not grow something else, but similar? I offer up loganberrys, grows like blackberrys, just different fruit. Brother to a blackberry though.