Thornless Blackberry Plants vs. Traditional Blackberry Plants
Before you start your blackberry-growing journey, it's important to know the differences between blackberry plants with thorns, and those that are thornless. Both options produce delicious blackberries. But if you’re looking for a plant that’s more resilient, easier to manage, and produces high yields of sweet berries, you’ll definitely want to give thornless blackberries a closer look.
Difference #1: Canes
Canes are the shoots that grow from the plant’s crown, and eventually produce blackberries. The type of cane a blackberry plant has will determine how much support the plant needs to thrive.
Traditional Blackberry Varieties
The canes of traditional blackberry varieties can be one of three types: erect, semi-erect, or trailing.
Erect blackberry canes grow upwards, and tend to be straight and stiff. Some won’t require any additional support, while others may only require light trellising.
Semi-erect blackberry canes tend to need a little support to continue their upward growth and to keep the berries off the ground.
The trailing types, however, need heavy supports to manage their long, twisted canes. Trailing types also require extra pruning to keep the canes in check.
Doye’s Thornless Blackberry
The canes of Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry plants are a trailing variety. For best results, they require some support, such as a grape-type or fan-type trellis.
Difference #2: Size of Blackberry and Yield
Growing your own blackberries can be a rewarding experience, especially when your plants produce a high yield. The more blackberries your plants produce, the more berries you get for your buck. (and the more delicious recipes you can enjoy!)
Berry Size
If the size of the berry is more important to you, we recommend planting trailing thorned or thornless blackberry cultivators.
Generally, our thornless blackberry plants produce berries from one to one and a half inch long. Letting the fruit fully ripen will greatly add to the length.
Yield
Thornless blackberry plants tend to produce more berries than their thorned counterparts. In fact, Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry plant, when properly cared for, can produce 10-20 gallons of mouth-watering blackberries! (That’s 15-20 times the amount of what a traditional thorned blackberry plant can produce).
Difference #3: Harvesting
When it comes to harvesting your blackberries, thornless varieties are the easiest to harvest from. When allowed to fully ripen berries from Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry plants will simply fall off into your hand.
When harvesting from traditional thorned varieties, you’ll want to wear protective gloves to avoid unwanted pricks.
Difference #4: Resilience in the Face of Extreme Weather
The climate of the area you live in can make a big difference.
Rule #1: Blackberries love to sunbathe. For the best results, you have to plant your blackberry plants under full sun or partial shade. Regardless of which variety you plant, sun is a requirement. Our thornless blackberry bushes, for example, require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Some blackberry plants prefer mild winter conditions, but the hardiness of each type of blackberry bush varies quite a bit. Most blackberries require about 250 cold hours.
Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry bushes are resilient, and can easily live through single-digit and zero temperatures, and they have been known to survive in temps as low as -25 degrees without incurring damage. Our blackberry plants have survived and produced for over 35 years and we have not done anything to protect them during the winter.
However, if you live in an area with temperatures below -20, it is necessary to provide some protection.
In the face of extreme heat, the heat itself is not the problem. It's the sun you should watch for. Direct sunlight over a period of time can dehydrate your berries and reduce blackberry production. As long as your plants are protected from intense sunlight, they’ll continue to produce.
Difference #5: Taste and Sweetness
Taste and sweetness from bush to bush can vary. Some varieties produce more sour blackberries, while others are sweeter or more tart.
Our thornless plants produce high-sugar berries that fall into your hand when perfectly ripe. The sweet flavor is very appealing to most people. If allowed to fully ripen, it is very sweet. According to a winery, the sugar was 11% compared to about 6% for wild blackberries. If it is “picked" instead of letting it fall into your hand, it will not be sweet and will pucker your mouth like a lemon.
Difference #6: Level of Care and Maintenance
How much time and space do you have to dedicate to your blackberry bushes?
If you’re a busy person who doesn’t have a large garden, thornless blackberry varieties are a better choice. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry Plants do not spread from the roots, making them non-invasive and easy to contain. Traditional blackberry bushes can run rampant in your garden and may require extra pruning.
Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry plants are great for expert gardeners and beginners. Caring for our thornless variety saves you a lot of sweat, space, and money while providing you with massive yields of blackberries to enjoy.
Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry Plants: Easy To Maintain, Non-Invasive, High Yields of Delicious Blackberries
Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry is the most surefire way to enjoy large yields of delicious, juicy blackberries that taste as good off the branch as they do in pies, jams, jellies, ciders, wines, and all your favorite foods!
Whether you’re a master gardener or a beginner, we’re here to help you along the way. Follow our Facebook Page for helpful information or visit our website at www.FruitsandBerries.com.
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