Blackberry Chester

Chester is a thornless blackberry, carrying large, sweet black berries in summer on semi-erect, arching canes that are easy to pick from. It is self-pollinating, so a single plant fruits on its own. Full sun to part shade. Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil with plenty of organic matter. Water consistently, especially while the fruit is swelling. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring. The canes reach two to three metres and are best trained along a fence or wires. Chester fruits on canes grown the previous year, so after harvest cut the canes that fruited to the ground and tie in the new canes for next season's crop.