Thornless blackberry variety Chester Thornless: main characteristics, features

The world leader in blackberry production is the United States. It is there that you can find a large selection of fresh berries and processed products on store shelves. In our country, blackberries are easiest to buy at the market. And even then the choice is unlikely to be large. But farmers have finally paid attention to this crop. The question arises, which variety to plant. To get fresh berries that will store and transport well, you should pay attention to the bushy Chester Thornless blackberry.

Description of the berry crop

The Black Satin blackberry also comes from the Darrow and Thornfree varieties, but it bears little resemblance to the Chester Thornless.

General idea of ​​the variety

The blackberry variety Chester Thornless produces semi-creeping shoots. Their maximum length is 3 m. Although the lashes are strong and thick, they bend well, which makes maintenance much easier. They begin to branch low, and with good agricultural technology the lateral branches can reach 2 m.

Chester Thornless blackberries have a high shoot-forming ability and powerful lashes that are not too long. If desired, they can not be tied to the trellis, but separated in different directions. This way you can form a spreading massive plant from a bush. True, it will be difficult to harvest a bountiful harvest. But thanks to the absence of thorns and the flexibility of the shoots, it is quite possible.

Fruit clusters are also formed low from the ground, which explains the high yield of the Chester Thornless blackberry variety. The dark green leaves are trifoliate. The root system is branched and powerful.

Berries

The variety produces large pink flowers, mostly with five petals. Chester Thornless blackberries cannot be called gigantic; their weight ranges from 5-8 g. But the variety is classified as large-fruited.

Reference! For garden blackberries, the average berry weight is 3-5 g.

The fruit branches of the Chester Thornless variety are erect. It is noteworthy that fewer berries are formed at the ends of the shoots. The largest number of fruits are collected at the base of the bush. The shoots from last year are productive.

The fruits are almost perfectly oval in shape, blue-black, beautiful, mostly one-dimensional. The taste of Chester Thornless blackberries is good, sweet, with a noticeable but not strong sourness. The fruit aroma is average.

Domestic ratings praised the taste of the berries. Reviews from gardeners about Chester Thornless blackberries are mostly positive. Stingy with their assessments, Russian and Ukrainian tasters rated the variety a solid four independently of each other.

But the main advantage of Chester Thornless blackberries is their high fruit density. They are well transported and retain commercial quality for a long time. This, coupled with its good taste, has made growing Chester Thornless blackberries profitable for large and small farmers.

Reviews

Olga

I really love blackberry jam, but the plot didn’t allow me to grow enough. Chester Thornless solved my problem. In one season I collect a large number of berries.

Nikolai

Very pleased with the blackberries. No problem with picking - stem without thorns. It is frost-resistant, which is very pleasing (we have severe frosts). Not particularly whimsical. I'm happy!

Svetlana

Last year I purchased blackberries of this variety. I’m new to this business and was afraid that I wouldn’t get used to it. Now I understand that my fears were in vain! It was accepted perfectly, there are a lot of berries. I will recommend it to my friends.

Characteristic

In all respects, the Chester Thornless blackberry variety is excellent for growing as an industrial crop.

Main advantages

The Chester Thornless variety is superior to other blackberries in frost resistance. It is able to withstand temperatures down to -30⁰ C. Drought resistance is also at the level. But we should not forget that blackberry culture is moisture-loving in general.

The berries of the Chester Thornless variety are dense, tolerate transportation well and look great on the counter:

• they are beautiful;
• the fruits do not flow, do not wrinkle, and keep their shape well during storage;
• large enough to attract attention, but not so huge as to create the impression that there are only a few berries in a basket or plastic box.

Growing Chester Thornless blackberries is less hassle than other varieties. This is due to the fact that, although it is desirable to shorten and tie up shoots, it is not necessary.

The soil composition requirements for Chester Thornless are the same as for other varieties. The shoots are devoid of thorns along their entire length.

Flowering period and ripening time

Flowering in the central zone occurs in June. The berries ripen by early August, which is considered a mid-late fruiting period. In almost all regions they manage to ripen before frost. This is due to the fact that the harvest time for Chester Thornless blackberries is less extended than other varieties, starting in early August and lasting about a month.

Comment! In the southern regions, flowering and fruiting occur earlier.

Yield indicators, fruiting dates

The Chester Thornless variety is a fast-growing variety. It gives a full harvest in the third year after planting.

The average yield of the Chester Thornless blackberry variety is 10-15, and with good agricultural technology - up to 20 kg of berries per bush. Industrial plantations produce up to 30 t/ha.

Fruiting in the south begins at the end of July, in other regions - in August and lasts 3-4 weeks.

Area of ​​application of berries

Chester Thornless blackberries are consumed fresh and sent for processing. Their taste and aroma are better than most industrial varieties.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Chester Thornless blackberries are resistant to pests, diseases and other negative factors. This does not replace preventive treatments.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we consider the characteristics of Chester Thornless blackberries as an industrial crop, they may seem ideal:

1. Good berry taste.
2. High transportability and keeping quality of fruits.
3. Processed products are tasty.
4. High yield.
5. Good shoot-forming ability.
6. The lashes are easy to bend, which makes it easier to lift onto a support and prepare for winter.
7. The shoots are devoid of thorns along their entire length.
8. High tolerance to heat and drought.
9. It is not necessary to shorten the lateral branching of the variety.
10. High resistance to diseases and pests.
11. Short fruiting – 3-4 weeks.
12. The Chester Thornless variety is one of the most frost-resistant.

But this blackberry is still not ideal:

1. The berry taste is good, but not great.
2. The fruits in the cluster may not be one-dimensional.
3. Due to its low branching, the Chester Thornless variety is difficult to cover for the winter. It is not recommended to trim the side shoots located near the ground - this is where most of the crop is formed.
4. The variety still needs to be covered.

The use of chester blackberries in folk medicine

Fresh berries are recommended for consumption for metabolic disorders. From fresh berries, collected together with stalks and green leaves, you can prepare a decoction that is good for high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. For these purposes, blackberries can be prepared for future use by drying their leaves and berries. An infusion of dried blackberries and their leaves will help with gastrointestinal diseases, colds and inflammatory processes.

In cooking, blackberries are used for fillings and desserts. You can also use them to cook and make compotes, preserves and jams for future use. Taking into account the fact that Chester blackberries have many advantages, it can be recommended to grow them both for personal consumption and for sale.

Reproduction methods

Chester Thornless blackberries have shoots that first grow upward and then droop. The variety is easy to propagate by rooting layering or pulping.

Reference! When pulping, first cut off the top of the shoot above the bud, and when several thin branches grow from it, add droplets.

The variety propagates well by green or root cuttings or by dividing the bush.

Landing rules

The Chester Thornless variety is planted in the same way as other blackberries.

Recommended timing

In the northern regions and the central zone, it is recommended to plant blackberries in the spring, when the soil warms up. Then the plant will have time to take root well and get stronger before the onset of frost. In the south, all varieties, including Chester Thornless, are planted in early autumn, when the heat subsides.

Choosing a suitable location

The Chester Thornless blackberry variety will grow and fruit in partial shade. But such a landing is permissible only in the south. In other regions, if there is a lack of sunlight, the harvest will be poor, the berries will be small and sour. Some of them will not have time to ripen before frost.

The soil needs to be slightly acidic, loose, fertile. Light loams are best suited. Carbonate (sandy) soils are not suitable.

Groundwater should not come closer than a meter to the ground surface.

Soil preparation

Holes for planting blackberries are dug in 2 weeks. Their standard size is 50x50x50 cm. The top fertile layer of soil is mixed with a bucket of humus, 120-150 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potash fertilizers. The soil is improved:

• excessively sour - with lime;
• neutral or alkaline - red (high-moor) peat;
• dense - sand;
• carbonate - with additional doses of organic matter.

The planting hole is filled 2/3 with fertile soil and filled with water.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Chester Thornless blackberries are not that uncommon in nurseries and organizations selling planting material; the variety is not difficult to find. But it is better to buy young plants from reliable partners.

First of all, you should pay attention to the roots - they should be well developed, without damage, smell like earth, and not like mold or a cesspool.

Smooth, even bark without cracks or folds is a sign of healthy blackberries.

Important! If you notice thorns on a seedling, it means you have been deceived with the variety.

Algorithm and landing scheme

On industrial plantations, the distance between Chester Thornless blackberry seedlings is 1.2-1.5 m, in private gardens - from 2.5 to 3 m, row spacing - at least 3 m. If you want to grow the variety as a free-standing powerful bush, under a large area is left behind. But it will be more of a decorative plant than a fruit-bearing plant - it is inconvenient to harvest the fruit inside.

Planting is carried out in the following sequence:

1. A mound is made in the center of the pit, around which blackberry roots are spread.
2. They fall asleep, constantly compacting the soil. The root collar should be located 1.5-2.0 cm below the surface.
3. The seedling is watered with a bucket of water.
4. The soil is mulched.

Buy Chester blackberries.

We guarantee the quality of blackberry seedlings and are responsible for their safety in transit. Thanks to professional packaging and a closed root system, blackberry seedlings reach any region of the country in excellent condition.

Order seedlings: in the online store, by phone 4, by email. mail

The average cost of shipping by Russian Post is 300-350 rubles, shipping by EMS airmail is on average 1500-1800 rubles.

Answers to frequently asked questions:

2. We do not trim shrub seedlings to the size of the box and do not remove strawberry leaves (the plants tolerate shipping with leaves well!; sometimes, during a particularly long shipment, the leaves may become slightly discolored - this is quite normal!)

3. If possible, we try to take into account your wishes about delivery times, so that you have the opportunity to choose a suitable time for landing (the weather has been favorable in the region, a place has been prepared for landing, etc.)

4 . We do not purchase plants or hire hired workers: we grow, assemble and pack the plants ourselves - very meticulously, thoroughly and scrupulously - we work for quality, not speed! Sometimes this means you may have to wait a bit for your order - be patient!

5. Thanks to professional packaging, strawberries in parcels never get wrinkled, and bushes never break!

6 . All plants were grown in the Urals (northern Perm region) in open ground in a risky farming zone and adapted to difficult climatic conditions. For example:

— end of October 2022: no snow, temperature -16-18 degrees C; — January 2022: during the week it costs -45 UAH; — June 1, 2022: it’s snowing, etc.

The Ural weather constantly presents us with such surprises, but the species and varieties of plants we have selected live, grow, bloom luxuriantly and bear fruit magnificently no matter what!

7. Working with LIVE plants in considerable volumes, sending them to the most remote regions of the country and even abroad, we extremely rarely receive quality complaints (in 2022 there were only 4 of them!), so if, for some reason, the plants damaged during shipment, we can afford to resend the plants to the customer free of charge!

8 . Within 1-2 days after sending the parcel, we will inform you of the track number to track it (message to phone and email). In addition, we ourselves track your shipment and notify you of its arrival at the specified post office. You don't have to worry about where the package is.

9. In the off-season, you can consult with manufacturers. We will tell you how to choose the right crops and varieties, prepare the soil, plant plants, feed, shape, propagate, spending a minimum of effort, getting maximum returns. We have a wealth of experience and we are ready to share it! Contact us! NOTE! In the spring-summer period, during the work and mailing season, due to workload, we are not able to provide advice or answer all calls and messages! Hope for understanding!

10. Family works! Manual labor without outside help requires considerable time and physical effort, eliminates re-grading and confusion, and guarantees high quality planting material. This is where the price of our products comes from.

11. Our collection of plants, collected since 1988, contains new items from domestic and foreign selection, unique rarities and selected varieties of favorite classics. Do you want to get consistently high yields of berries on your plot and decorate your garden with stunningly beautiful ornamental plants? We invite you to cooperate! The choice is huge - choose!

Sincerely, Agro (Perm).

Subsequent care of the crop

The planting is completed, and caring for the Chester Thornless blackberry begins with abundant watering of the bush. The soil should not dry out completely until the plant takes root.

Growing principles

Chester Thornless blackberries are remarkable in that they can be grown as a large bush without staking. This is due to the natural length of the main shoots - up to 3 m. But such blackberries will decorate the garden. It will be difficult to collect berries hidden inside the bush.

So it is better to tie Chester Thornless blackberries to a multi-row or T-shaped support up to 2 m high. For convenience, fruiting shoots are fixed on one side, young shoots on the other.

Necessary activities

Although the variety is drought-resistant, in the south, in hot weather, blackberries are watered once a week. In regions with cool summers - as necessary - the soil under the plant should not dry out; the crop is moisture-loving. To reduce watering, mulch the soil.

Loosening is best done at the beginning and end of the season. The rest of the time it will be replaced by mulching: on acidic soils - with humus, on alkaline soils - with high-moor peat.

The Chester Thornless variety produces a large harvest, despite the relatively short shoots. It needs to be fed intensively. If the soil was well-dressed before planting, fertilizing the blackberries begins a year later.

In the spring, nitrogen is added, at the beginning of flowering - a mineral complex without chlorine. During the ripening period, blackberries are given a solution of mullein infusion (1:10) or green fertilizer (1:4). Foliar feeding with the addition of a chelate complex will be beneficial. In autumn, blackberries are fed with potassium monophosphate.

Shrub pruning

After fruiting, the old branches are cut out at ground level. In the fall, only broken side shoots and the weakest vines are removed from annual growth - despite high winter hardiness, some of them can be damaged by frost.

In the spring, the branches are normalized. Some gardeners leave 3 shoots. This makes sense if the blackberries will be poorly cared for, for example, in a rarely visited country house. With intensive cultivation, 5-6 vines are left.

You don’t need to pinch the side shoots at all. But this will complicate care, and the need for feeding will increase. Each gardener decides for himself whether to shorten the side shoots as soon as they reach 40 cm.

Comment! The Chester Thornless variety branches well without pinching.

Preparing for winter

After fruiting, which in the northern regions barely has time to end before the onset of frost, and pruning of old shoots, the young shoots are removed from the support, tied and covered for the winter. To do this, use spruce branches, straw, agor fiber or spandbond, and dry soil. It’s even better to build special tunnels.

Although the shoots of the Chester Thornless blackberry bend well, lateral branching begins quite close to the base of the bush. This complicates the covering procedure, but it is at the bottom that most fruit clusters are formed.

Important! Residents of the southern regions! Although the Chester Thornless variety is one of the most frost-resistant, winter shelter cannot be neglected!

Pest Control

Blackberry bushes can be damaged by insects such as raspberry beetles, weevils, and shoot aphids.

The shoots on which the pests live become sensitive to even light frosts, freeze slightly and gradually dry out. For preventive purposes during the growing season, it is recommended to spray blackberry bushes with Fitoverm (dilute 2 ml of the substance in 10 liters of water) or Kinmiks (2.5 ml of the drug diluted in 10 liters of water).

If raspberry beetles and weevils have already appeared on blackberry bushes, they can be shaken off onto a light-colored cloth spread under the bush. This procedure is carried out on a cool morning (+8 degrees), when the beetles weakly hold on to the stems. When beetles appear en masse, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of laundry soap (40 g of soap per 10 liters of water).

Treating the bush with garlic solution gives a good effect. 20–30 g of garlic are infused in a bucket of water for 24 hours, and then filtered through cheesecloth and used for spraying.

When shoot aphids appear, blackberry bushes are fumigated with tobacco smoke or sprayed with garlic solution. You can spray blackberry bushes with a solution of potassium soap (300 g per bucket of water).

The main pests of blackberries Chester Thornless in the photo

Young shoots damaged by shoot aphids are bent and develop poorly

The weevil causes the greatest damage to blackberries during flowering.

The raspberry beetle damages the buds, flowers and leaves of blackberries