Thornfree Blackberries

Theveggardener

Son's just phone to say he's bought a Thornfree Blackberry, anyone know anything about them, what there like, taste etc. He bought in in the nursery near where he works.

Pete.8

What is the variety?
I planted a thornless Reuben blackberry last year, but no berries until summer.
The reviews for taste I read were very good and it only gets to about 6ft which is just right for me

Lyn

I bought one of those @Pete.8. Got it from morrisons last year, only had a few fruits, you have to cut any fruiting stems down to the ground, they don’t fruit again on those, but this year it’s growing really well, wouldn’t say 6‘ though, I’ve put it on a 6 x6’ trellis and it’s filled that and I’ve twisted it back on itself now. 

Theveggardener

Pet.8, I'm not sure nothing on front of label but on the back it says Blackberry. Mure. Jezyna. Mure but I think that is just saying Blackberry in anther language. Sounds a bit like this one although it says height 3 - 5 mtrs so I would need to keep it cut back. Wish son and OH would wait till I'm with them before buying plant's then I could ask on here for advise.

Pete.8

Thanks @Lyn  - I cut the stems back to the ground when I planted it (so it may have been the previous year I bought it...) and it sent up shoots about 4ft last year, so hoping for some berries later in the year.

@Dee73 I think you're right - all those words are Blackberry in different languages - good luck

Theveggardener

Lyn, so I should cut it back to the ground when? around Sept/Oct this year or early spring next year? The label says when it reaches around 2 mtrs to prune the top. 2 mtrs will be plenty high enough it will like yours go on a trellis. I expect the other sizes are if you just let it do what it wants.

Theveggardener

Thanks Pete.8 off to build a trellis.

Lyn

Cut it back to the ground after you’ve picked the fruits on that stem.
maybe I should stop mine then, I’m going have a wander up and have a look😀

Lyn

Not sure if you can pick it out from all the rubbish around there, nothing posh here! 
But it’s the red stems on the trellis, it’s wrapped around and now disappearing above the photo, you can maybe trace from the base of it. It probably does well here because of our acid soil, the wild ones grow for miles in the field and trail through my flower borders.

Theveggardener

Yes got it gosh that has grown well, thought that was your fruit bed till I clicked and got a closer look. We're not posh either, if you could see my veg patch it's no where near ready. I wish we had more space, I keep taking a bit here and a bit there from OH lawn so far been lucky he's not noticed.

Lyn

There’s some raspberries in there and 3 blue berries, some parsley plants a tray of water for the hedgehogs and loads of trays to keep the cat off. Other than that, I haven’t got round to weeding it yet. 😀