BLACKBERRY - THORNLESS CHESTER

Blackberry - Thornless Chester

Comments: -

How many friends have I made since I got a blackberry?!

Even this type can get away from you so keep it in a pot and keep the canes off the ground otherwise they can strike. I have mine sitting in the middle of 2 she-oaks and a gum tree and have the canes ties up all along the trees. It works really well!

The fruit aren't as sweet as the commercial ones... yet. I am hoping as the plant matures it will get sweeter.

He also doesn't seem to know the difference between the seasons - new growth and new berries in winter! :O)

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June

Planted: 2008

Height 4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

white scale = scrape off with a finernail and spray with white oil

caterpillars & grasshoppers = pick them off by hand and then lux soap spray to keep them off

fruit fly = traps (both Wild Mays and sugar water work)

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Lovely Berries!!  Over watered & over fed, canes were over 4cm thick.

Fruiting Months March, April, May

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

I bought this because it was thornless and non-invasive. The first year saw the 1 foot plant grew to 1.2 meters in heights. It gave a couple of cluster of blackberries. The fruit wasn't as sweet as I hoped it to be (could be because I picked it too early-just want to beat the birds to it first). 

I planted it in a 55L plastic pot with lots of manure and mulching. I have to stake the vines as they tend to sent their arms outward instead of upward. True to their name, there was no thorn. 

They didn't seem to be affected by Melbourne winter or hot summer. Hopefully I get a better crop this year now that the plant is more established.

Update (after winter): Lots of new buds from the leaf axils. I gave it a good watering of Potash and sheep manure.

Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2011

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 3 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control: None so far. They are too busy attacking my tomatoes or lettuce.

Blackberry - Thornless Chester ^7/10

Comments: - It seems to be growing fine as long as I make sure to not let it get waterlogged, Watch mould from things around it. I had it going up through a bamboo trellis that ended up growing some sort of black powdery mould, My blackberry then started going black where it was touching the mouldy bamboo. I have now moved it to a proper frame cut it back and it is now fine, Actually it's going crazy. No flowers yet and I don't know what it'll do up here in Cairns but I'll give it a go.  

Planted: 2013

Height 6 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fertiliser or Organics Used: composted cow/chicken manure, seaweed, liquid feriliser

Pest Control: Inspect daily for caterpillars and grass hoppers

Organic Status:Organic

Blackberry - Thornless Chester ^4/10

Comments: -

poor fruiting so far

Fruiting Months April and May

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: - great eating

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blackberry - Thornless Chester ^5/10

Comments: -

can't recall. It was a little while ago now :)

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Seedling)

Comments: -

Too much competition with the grass I think. Need to mulch around it further

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: - Nice fruit a little sparse in first year of fruit .

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2016

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blackberry - Thornless Chester (Grafted)

Comments: - A favoured Childhood adventure with billy can in the wild 

Planted: 2015

Water Given in: Winter

Blackberry - Thornless Chester ^8/10

Comments: - Just planted a week ago. Too soon to tell 

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun