{"product_id":"chester-thornless-blackberry-rubus-chester","title":"Chester Thornless Blackberry - Rubus 'Chester'","description":"\u003cp\u003eChester Thornless Blackberry (\u003cem\u003eRubus\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLargely thornless.\u003c\/strong\u003e The smooth stems make picking easy and pleasant, and they are a gentler introduction to growing fruit for children.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBig, sweet berries.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fruit is large, black and sweet, equally good fresh, on a pavlova or cooked into jam, pies and crumbles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf fertile.\u003c\/strong\u003e One plant will set fruit by itself, although planting more than one often gives a better yield.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarly cropping.\u003c\/strong\u003e Blackberries start to fruit from a young age, so you do not wait years for the first harvest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRugged and cold hardy.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a resilient, easy care fruit plant for cooler climate gardens and is frost hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrellis and wires.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlong a fence or boundary.\u003c\/strong\u003e A row of trained canes makes a productive green screen about 2m high. The thornless stems are safe to brush past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHome fruit gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e A few plants in a sunny, rich bed supply enough for fresh snacks, jam and baking through summer and autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Chester Thornless Blackberry in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Any rich, well drained soil. Plant it quite shallow, with the roots about 10cm deep, and enrich the bed with compost before planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/edible-plants\"\u003eEdible plants and bush tucker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fruit-trees\"\u003eFruit trees for the home garden\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/growing-a-successful-fruit-and-vegetable-garden\"\u003eGrowing a successful fruit and vegetable garden\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/blueberry-care-guide\"\u003eBlueberry care guide, another home grown berry\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Chester really thornless?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is largely thornless. If any thorned stems appear from the roots of a mature plant, cut them out completely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need two plants to get fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Chester is self fertile, so one plant will set fruit, although planting more than one often gives a better yield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I train the canes?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790889681215,"sku":"RUB-HYB-CHESTE-tube","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/chester-thornless-blackberry-rubus-chester.jpg?v=1792211754","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/chester-thornless-blackberry-rubus-chester","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}