Description
Chester Thornless Blackberry: Hardy, High-Yield, & Exceptionally Sweet Berries
Discover the Chester Thornless Blackberry, a truly gold-standard cultivar renowned for its vigorous growth, abundant yields, and exceptional disease resistance. Released jointly by leading agricultural research stations in 1985 and named in honor of Dr. Chester Zych, this reliable plant is perfect for home gardeners, U-pick operations, and fresh market sales. Its semi-erect, thornless canes produce large clusters of beautiful cotton candy pink blooms, maturing into high quantities of large, good-quality, sweet berries that are a joy to harvest.
Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cultivar Name | Chester Thornless Blackberry (SIUS 68-6-17) |
| Parentage | Cross of SIUS 47x THORNFREE, made in 1968 by J.W. Hull (same cross as Hull Thornless; both have Darrow as grandparent) |
| Release Details | Released jointly in 1985 by USDA Agricultural Research Service, Illinois Agricultural Experimental Station, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and The Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station |
| Naming Origin | Named in recognition of Dr. Chester Zych, former fruit researcher at the University of Illinois |
| Key Characteristics | Very vigorous, productive, large-fruited, late maturing, moderately winter hardy |
| Plant Health | Outstanding hardiness and disease resistance; canes are strong, disease- and pest-free |
| Flower Description | Large clusters of beautiful cotton candy pink blooms, producing over 30 berries per cluster |
| Berry Quality | High yields of large, good quality, sweet berries |
| Harvest Ease | Berries come off the canes easier when fully ripe |
| Growth Habit | Semi-erect canes |
| Recommendation | Recommended as a replacement for older Thornless varieties |
| Plant Format | Supplied in 12cm pots |
Benefits
| Key Benefit | How It Enhances Your Garden/Harvest |
|---|---|
| Effortless Harvesting | Thornless canes ensure a pleasant and injury-free berry-picking experience, making it ideal for families and commercial U-pick operations. |
| Abundant, High-Quality Yields | Produces high quantities of large, sweet, good-quality berries, perfect for fresh eating, preserves, or profitable market sales, addressing the desire for plentiful, delicious fruit. |
| Superior Hardiness & Disease Resistance | Exceptionally vigorous and resilient plants thrive reliably in USDA Zones 4-7 with less maintenance, reducing frustration with low-yielding or disease-prone berry plants. |
| Vibrant Garden Appeal | Features beautiful cotton candy pink blooms in large clusters, adding ornamental value to your landscape before the bountiful fruit ripens. |
| Proven & Reliable Performance | A widely recognized and recommended cultivar, developed by leading agricultural research stations, ensuring a trusted choice for consistent, large, flavorful fruit. |
| Extended Late-Season Sweetness | As a late-maturing variety, Chester extends your fresh berry season, offering sweet harvests when other varieties have finished. |
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Rubus fruticosus 'Chester Thornless' |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4-7 |
| Growth Habit | Semi-erect |
| Fruit Size | Large |
| Fruit Sweetness | Sweet |
| Harvest Season | Late-maturing |
| Winter Hardiness | Moderately winter hardy |
| Disease Resistance | Outstanding |
| Pot Size | 12cm |
| SKU | CHESADLI13-12 |
Usage & Fit
- Planting Guidance: Your Chester Thornless Blackberry plant arrives in a 12cm pot, ready for planting in well-drained soil with full sun exposure for optimal growth and fruiting.
- Cane Support: While semi-erect and strong, canes may benefit from trellising or support, especially when laden with heavy fruit clusters, to maximize air circulation and ease of harvest.
- Harvesting Tip: For the best flavor and easiest picking experience, wait until the berries are fully ripe, when they will detach from the cane with minimal effort.
Ideal For
- Dedicated Home Gardeners: Seeking high-yielding, low-maintenance berry plants for a consistent supply of fresh, sweet, home-grown produce.
- Small-Scale Berry Farmers: Looking for a profitable, reliable, and disease-resistant thornless variety for successful U-pick operations or fresh market sales.
- Gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7: Needing a proven, moderately winter-hardy blackberry cultivar that thrives in their specific climate.
- Anyone Desiring Easy Harvesting: The thornless canes alleviate the pain point of unpleasant or difficult picking, making gardening a more enjoyable experience.
- Replacing Older Varieties: An excellent choice for upgrading and replacing less productive or disease-prone thornless blackberry cultivars with a superior alternative.
Policy & Support
| Contact Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Email Address | berriesunlimitedusa@gmail.com |
| Physical Address | 807 Cedar Lane, Prairie Grove, AR 72753, United States of America |
| Phone Number | (479)846-6030 |
Explore Other Blackberry Options
4 Reviews
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Chester Blackberry
Arrived healthy
-
came in excellent shape
Plants look healthy and in perfect condition.
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Chester
Berry Update: Berries have a pleasing, sweet flavor. But Chester doesn't want to give up its berries until they are ripe. They will come off the canes easier when fully ripe. Very delicious!
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Chester
Ok full disclosure here. I purchased five bare-root Chesters from another company before I found BU online. I will review them here because I believe these are an exceptional variety and getting them from BU will put you ahead in the growth cycle like their plants have done for me. Chester is a beautiful variety. Mine have semi-erect, strong canes, disease and pest free, and produce huge clusters of cotton candy pink blooms with over 30 berries per cluster. The berries are nice sized, and pretty. I highly recommend this variety, especially from this company. Thank you.
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