Chester Thornless Blackberry

Chester Thornless Blackberry (Rubus 'Chester') is a largely thornless blackberry, so you can pick big, sweet black berries without the scratches. The long canes reach 1.5m to 2.5m high and 1m to 2m wide, carry pale pink white flowers in spring and fruit through summer and autumn. It is self fertile and starts fruiting from a young age.

Why you'll love it

• Largely thornless. The smooth stems make picking easy and pleasant, and they are a gentler introduction to growing fruit for children.
• Big, sweet berries. The fruit is large, black and sweet, equally good fresh, on a pavlova or cooked into jam, pies and crumbles.
• Self fertile. One plant will set fruit by itself, although planting more than one often gives a better yield.
• Early cropping. Blackberries start to fruit from a young age, so you do not wait years for the first harvest.
• Rugged and cold hardy. It is a resilient, easy care fruit plant for cooler climate gardens and is frost hardy.

Where it works best

Trellis and wires. The canes are semi-upright, so grow them against a trellis or taut wires. Plant 1.5m apart and train them up to the top, then tie in new growth pointing down until you reach the bottom, which increases fruit yield.

Along a fence or boundary. A row of trained canes makes a productive green screen about 2m high. The thornless stems are safe to brush past.

Home fruit gardens. A few plants in a sunny, rich bed supply enough for fresh snacks, jam and baking through summer and autumn.

Growing Chester Thornless Blackberry in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Blackberries are rugged, easy care fruit plants for cooler climate gardens, and Chester is frost hardy and resilient. Crops are best where winters are cool, so in the humid subtropics and tropics expect poorer results.

Soil. Any rich, well drained soil. Plant it quite shallow, with the roots about 10cm deep, and enrich the bed with compost before planting.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, and keep the roots watered while it is in flower and in fruit. A top dressing of compost each spring supports cropping.

Pruning. Prune the growing tips in summer to encourage branching. Chester fruits on last year's stems, so cut out old canes in winter. If any thorned stems appear from the roots of mature plants, prune them out completely.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chester Thornless Blackberry as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small, so set it into rich, well drained soil beside its trellis, plant it shallowly and keep it watered while the first canes lengthen.

The tube is supplied by our grower, so it is not always in stock. While there is none it shows as sold out, and pressing the notify button on this page sends you an email the day it is available again.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Edible plants and bush tucker
• Fruit trees for the home garden
• Growing a successful fruit and vegetable garden
• Blueberry care guide, another home grown berry

Common questions

Is Chester really thornless?

It is largely thornless. If any thorned stems appear from the roots of a mature plant, cut them out completely.

Do I need two plants to get fruit?

No. Chester is self fertile, so one plant will set fruit, although planting more than one often gives a better yield.

How do I train the canes?

Plant against a trellis or taut wires, train the canes up to the top, then tie new growth in pointing down until you reach the bottom. This helps lift fruit yields.