Blackberry recommendations?

[TeaMonsta]

I'd like to plant some blackberry plants against a south-facing wall (see photo) which will have a wire trellis attached. After reading some blackberry related posts on this forum and also having done some extreme Googling, my requirements for the plants are as follows:

Produces sweet berries that can be eaten straight from the plant
Upright variation so more than one plant can become established
Fairly good cropping
Not too vigorous

The distance from the edge of the wall to the edge of the oil tank (which will cast a shadow) is just under 4 metres. This is the sunniest area of the wall so the area I'll grow the blackberries. The total width of the wall is just under 8 metres. My location is NE Scotland (about 30 miles west of Aberdeen).

I'd prefer to avoid thornless varieties as the consensus seems to be that the flavour is not so good. And the Reuben variety seems to have widely disappointed so another one to avoid. I'm keen to make my choice soon so that I can prepare the ground and space the planting sites accordingly so any advice would be very welcome.

[chrisdb]

I my experience vigorous and blackberry normally go together.

I have a couple of varieties. The best is probably Triple Crown, which tastes good to me, but it is very vigorous and thornless, so doesn't meet your criteria. It occupies about 3 - 4 m horizontally against my fence, and that's with being hacked back a couple of times a year.

Reuben is very upright, with an Autumn Raspberry-like growth habit, but I agree that the berries seem a bit undersized and pathetic.

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks Chris. I may have to alter my criteria somewhat, as otherwise it could be fairly limiting. The reason for a less vigorous variety was so that I could put in more than one plant but if I'm getting a good crop of sweet berries from the one plant, it wouldn't matter so much how big it grows and how fast. Thanks for your comments.

[DannyK]

Try Ashton Cross. Vigorous, thorny but v good flavour.

It would be useful if there were an unbiased guide to varieties.

Too much overhyped rubbish out there like strawberry spinach and cucamelons.

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks Danny. Seems to get good reviews.

[WendyC]

I have Loch Ness, upright thornless, tastes fine to me and Fantastia, which is in it's first year. No fruit yet but the description was vigorous and thorny as is proving true to type!

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks Wendy. A few to consider now from people who know.

Hopefully putting up a trellis over the next week or so. I've decided not to put it on the back wall of the garage now. Instead I'll be putting in three posts to make an "L" shaped trellis which, when the blackberry canes have grown, will hide that big, ugly oil tank you can see in the picture.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow an American cultivar Black Butte known for its large sweet berries some 2" long, it is early to ripen July to August Had it in a large container for some 5 years now and it never fails to produce.

[TeaMonsta]

Been reading about the Black Butte. Another popular one, it seems. I phoned the nursery up the other day to see what they're getting in and they'll be calling back when they know for sure so hopefully they'll be stocking some of the recommendations.

[Kirk]

Have grown Loch Ness and Waldo, both thornless.
Loch Ness was the lower vigor, canes got to around 6-8 feet, Waldo went to about double. Loch Ness needed some support but as the canes were generally thicker not a lot. THe Waldo canes were not so thick and being fairly long needed a structure to tie on to.

Cannot comment on taste, I liked both but that may not mean you would. Which I find odd anyone asking for a nice tasting one, nice to me may not be so nice to you. Neither of the two mentioned have the sharp bramble taste.

[Thelma Sanders]

I'd recommend growing a Boysenberry. Good blackberry flavour, strong growing, huge yield and thornless to boot

[ldsau93]

I find it hilarious that people want to plant blackberries! - I fully understand the attraction of the fruit but on our site they have completely taken over the place. No idea of variety but thorned, good size and prolific.

[TeaMonsta]

....on our site they have completely taken over the place.....

Yes, it's something to be aware of and be prepared for. From everything I've been reading, training and pruning is key to keeping them under control. Better get myself a decent pair of secateurs!.....

[Potstubsdustbins]

Mines in a home made container so don't suffer the rampant blackberry problem

This was taken a couple or three years back when it was a young plant.

[chrisdb]

I find it hilarious that people want to plant blackberries! - I fully understand the attraction of the fruit but on our site they have completely taken over the place. No idea of variety but thorned, good size and prolific.

I personally think that useful plants that mostly look after themselves and only need controlling occasionally are great. You can have too much of a good thing, but most of the time it's a lot more effort to coddle a plant than it is to hack back something that's a bit too successful.