Blackberry Chester is a newer hybrid with loads of berries and fewer thorns than the others.
Choose a spot in the garden with good drainage in full. While not thorn free, this variety has less thorns than regular Blackberries, resist can blight. Will produce a crop for many years.
PLANTING DIRECTIONS:
1. Plant canes 2 feet apart creating hedgerows that are 10 feet apart. Dig a hole two times the width of the root ball in good loose garden soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5 amending if necessary.
2. Remove the plant from packaging and lightly loosen the bottom of the root ball to release the roots as you set it in place in the hole.
3. Keep the top of the root ball even with soil surface and fill in around the roots. Lightly tamp dirt around your newly planted blackberry.
4. Water well and add additional soil if necessary and water again.
5. Keep weed-free, watered if necessary and pruned regularly to maintain a quality crop. Fertilizer may be applied in early spring before sprouting and again in late May.
HARVEST TIME: July and August
HABIT: Blackberries require pruning fruit on 2 year old canes. Prune canes in the fall of the second year to ground and new canes to 4 feet.
USAGE: Fresh eating, jams and jellies, freezes well and baking.
PLANTING TIPS: Keep well watered and weed free to ensure a good crop. Established blackberries, properly pruned will produce berries for many years.
