Trustpilot Excellent Image

Blackberry Oregon Thornless

Blackberry Oregon Thornless

£11.99
1512
9 item(s)
+
Wishlist

At a Glance

Blackberry Oregon Thornless

Rubus ursinus 'Oregon Thornless'

 

Overview

The Oregon Thornless blackberry is a fantastic choice for home gardeners seeking delicious, home-grown berries without the hassle of thorny canes. This semi-erect variety produces abundant crops of large, sweet berries and offers the convenience of thorn-free harvesting, making it perfect for family gardens and areas where children play.

 

Key Features

Thornless Convenience: Completely spine-free canes make pruning, training, and harvesting a pleasure rather than a chore. No need for thick gloves or protective clothing when tending your plants.

Exceptional Flavour: Oregon Thornless produces large, glossy black berries with excellent sweet-tart flavour that's perfect for fresh eating, baking, preserves, and freezing.

Heavy Cropping: Mature plants can yield 4-6 kilograms of fruit per season, with berries ripening from mid-July through August.

Semi-Erect Growth: Sturdy canes require minimal support compared to trailing varieties, making them easier to manage in smaller spaces.

 

Growing Requirements

Climate and Hardiness

  • Hardiness: Fully hardy in zones 6-9
  • Chill Hours: Requires 800-1000 hours below 7°C for proper fruit development
  • Best Regions: Thrives in temperate climates with cool, moist winters and warm summers

Soil Preferences

  • Soil Type: Well-draining, fertile soil with good organic content
  • pH Range: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
  • Drainage: Essential - blackberries cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions
  • Organic Matter: Benefits from annual mulching with compost or well-rotted manure

Sunlight and Spacing

  • Sun Requirements: Full sun (6+ hours daily) for best fruit production
  • Plant Spacing: 1.5-2 metres apart in rows
  • Row Spacing: 2.5-3 metres between rows

 

Planting and Care

When to Plant

Plant bare-root canes in late autumn to early spring when dormant. Container-grown plants can be planted throughout the growing season with adequate watering.

Planting Method

Dig holes twice the width of the root system and plant at the same depth as previously grown. Water thoroughly after planting and apply a 7-10cm layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it away from the stem.

Watering

Maintain consistent moisture, particularly during fruit development. Water deeply once or twice weekly rather than frequent shallow watering. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work excellently.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertiliser (10-10-10) in early spring. Side-dress with compost mid-season. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers late in the season as these promote soft growth susceptible to winter damage.

 

Training and Pruning

Support System

While semi-erect, Oregon Thornless benefits from a simple trellis system. Install posts with two horizontal wires at 1 metre and 1.5 metres high to support fruiting canes.

Annual Pruning

  • Summer: Remove spent fruiting canes immediately after harvest
  • Winter: Select 4-6 strongest new canes per plant, removing weak or damaged growth
  • Spring: Tip-prune canes to 1.5-1.8 metres to encourage lateral branching

Training Tips

Tie new canes loosely to supports as they grow. Separate fruiting canes from new growth to improve air circulation and ease of harvesting.

 

Harvesting and Storage

When to Harvest

Berries ripen from mid-July through August. Pick when fruits are fully black and easily detach from the plant with gentle pressure. Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season.

Storage

  • Fresh: Store in refrigerator for up to one week
  • Freezing: Freeze whole berries on trays before transferring to containers
  • Preserving: Excellent for jams, jellies, pies, and cordials

 

Pest and Disease Management

Common Issues

  • Cane Blight: Ensure good air circulation and remove affected canes promptly
  • Aphids: Monitor in spring; beneficial insects usually provide natural control
  • Birds: Use netting during ripening period if necessary

Prevention

Regular pruning, proper spacing, and avoiding overhead watering help prevent most disease issues. Remove fallen leaves and debris to reduce overwintering pests.

 

Why Choose Oregon Thornless?

This variety combines the best of both worlds: exceptional fruit quality and garden-friendly characteristics. The absence of thorns makes it ideal for gardeners who want to enjoy growing blackberries without the associated scratches and difficulties of traditional thorny varieties. Its reliable cropping, excellent flavour, and manageable growth habit make it a superb choice for both novice and experienced fruit growers.

Perfect for fresh eating, baking, preserves, and sharing with friends and neighbours, Oregon Thornless blackberry will provide years of delicious harvests with proper care.

Buying Fruit Trees/Bushes from Jacksons Nurseries

Our trees might be Freshly Potted and the root system may not be fully established, and loose soil may occur when unpacking.

Unlike many garden centres, supermarkets and some nurseries here at Jacksons Nurseries we sell the majority of our stock all year round. Our stock is for the most part grown outdoors making it far hardier than those grown under glass and/or only sold ‘In Season’.

Here at Jacksons Nurseries we would favour a hardy outdoor grown plant every time. They are far less likely to suffer from the shock of being planted in colder conditions and they will begin to establish more rapidly the following spring. This can mean that they don’t look like a ‘picture perfect’ plant when purchased out of season but with the correct care and a little time you’ll have a wonderful plant to enjoy for many years to come.

 
8612
£0.28
Bamboo canes, each cane is 90cm in length. Perfect for giving your young saplings, hedging plants, climbers and other tall shrubs the support they need when...
In stock
+
Wishlist

12684
£7.99
This tree planting kit is ideal for giving your new tree the best start. The soft plastic tree tie prevents your tree becoming damaged or rubbed by the tie....
In stock
+
Wishlist

8614
£0.77
Spiral Rabbit Guards supplied with 1x 90cm bamboo cane. are the most popular, low cost tree protection for young saplings, seedlings, transplants and...
In stock
+
Wishlist
1515
£11.99
2-3 Litre pot
Upright, deciduous Blueberry with clusters of large deep blue berries from early July onwards. Extremely nutritious fruit with a high vitamin content....
In stock
+
Wishlist

1516
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
This is a delicious, juicy, heavy-cropping variety with a vigorous, upright habit and fresh, deciduous, light green, serrated leaves that take on striking...
In stock
+
Wishlist

1519
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
A robust, heavy-cropping variety producing a reliable, abundant crop of large, yellow-green fruit that's ready for harvesting in late May. It has a...
In stock
+
Wishlist

1520
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
A reliable, deciduous Gooseberry with thorny stems of deeply-lobed leaves and small, pink-flushed green flowers. Heavy crops of large, smooth berries have a...
In stock
+
Wishlist

1524
£9.99 £8.99
2-3 Litre pot
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) 'Autumn Bliss' is a primocane, autumn-fruiting deciduous raspberry that produces fruit in the first year of growth. It is a heavy...
In stock
+
Wishlist

1527
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
Deciduous shrub with large, long red berries with a firm texture and exquisite flavour that are ripe and ready for picking from early summer. Providing it's...
In stock
+
Wishlist

1532
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
This rampant, scrambling, deciduous shrub produces large, juicy, dark red fruits with a sharp taste in abundance from midsummer until early autumn....
In stock
+
Wishlist

1534
£9.99
2-3 Litre pot
Low growing evergreen with leathery leaves and a lax, cascading habit, making it ideal for containers or hanging baskets. Tiny pink flowers appear in...
In stock
+
Wishlist

No posts found

Write a Review
  Size Availability Price  
2-3 Litre pot
In stock
£11.99

You may also like