Thornless blackberry bushes

Gers

The hedgerows where I live have masses of wild blackberry bushes so they have never been looked after. All the fruiting stems are high up in the foliage canopy but are almost impossible to reach because of the yards of vicious huge thorny stems. I'll probably do a bit of judicious pruning later this year.

However, I'd like to plant a couple of thornless varieties in the garden.

Are there any recommended varieties for high yield and great taste?

Are they 'easy' to cultivate?

Any advice gratefully received.

Davesnave

I used to have Merton Thornless and it was fine, but now I've planted Chester and Loch Maree at my 'new' place. These came recommended to me, but there are others, like Waldo, which I would also like to try.

I'd avoid the fern leaved Americans. Found one when we arrived here and it tasted of nothing in particular, sported, and ended up all thorny. I'm still finding the seedlings!

Kem Muir has a guide to growing with their selection:

http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/image/data/pdf/Growing%20Guides/Blackberries.pdf

I'm hoping to grow mine along the sheep fences here, assuming the sheep leave me before they start to put on real growth of new canes in spring.

KxMx

It was so long ago I don't recall the variety, but I have a thorn-less blackberry and I love it.

Even gave a little fruit first year!

I remove the dead wood & leaves about once a year, and water lots during summer-one year I skimped because the plant was already quite green and got a disappointing crop that year.

Farway

I have one called Thorn Free, spot the pun there? crops well, but a second for Chester, which I have seen growing at West Dean gardens, loaded with fruit, unable to comment on taste of it

Thornless is way to go IMO, then just pick from hedgerows to top up as needed

Gers

All those suggestions are great, many thanks. I may well try both Loch Maree and Chester though some online suppliers say that plants are only available in October and others have them in stock now.

Will research more now.

I have pruned the wild bushes and just cut off the dead stems and chucked them into the field. Perhaps they won't fruit again this year though it should help for next year. I had to be careful as the entwined honeysuckle is already beginning to bud so I didn't want to cut that.

Once again, thanks.