Chester Blackberry is a dependable thornless blackberry variety widely considered the standard for late-season harvests thanks to its excellent fruit quality, disease resistance, and consistent productivity. This vigorous grower produces large, firm, glossy black berries with a sweet, mild flavor that’s perfect for fresh eating, baking, freezing, and preserving. Chester is especially valued by home gardeners for extending the blackberry season well into late summer and early fall, delivering abundant harvests when many other varieties are finished.

SHIPPING INFO: This product begins shipping in March. We will try to ship within the ideal planting window for your growing zone.

Why Grow Chester Blackberry?

• Thornless canes for easy, comfortable harvesting
• Produces large, firm berries with sweet, mild flavor
• Late-season variety that extends your blackberry harvest
• Highly productive and disease resistant
• Reliable performer for home gardens and berry patches

Growing Information

🌱 Plant Type: Blackberry (thornless, floricane / summer-bearing) – plug plant
🌱 Hardiness Zones: 5–9
🌱 When to Plant: Early spring, as soon as soil can be worked
🌱 When to Harvest: Late summer through early fall (typically mid-August through September, depending on location)

Cultivation Tips

• Soil requirements: Plant in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Avoid low areas where water may pool.
• Sunlight: Full sun for best growth and fruit production.
• Watering: Water consistently, especially during establishment and dry periods. Soil should remain moist but not soggy. Mulching helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool.
• Harvesting: Berries are ready when fully black, firm, and release easily from the plant. Harvest every few days during peak season.
• Pruning: Fruit is produced on second-year canes. After harvest, remove spent floricanes at ground level. In late winter, thin first-year canes to improve airflow and encourage healthy growth.
• Spacing: Space plants approximately 3–5 feet apart for proper airflow and cane development.
• Pollination: Self-fertile—no additional plants required.

Click here for our Blackberry Growing Guide

Click here for a video on How to Care for Brambles: Plants and Plugs

History

Chester Blackberry was developed through a USDA breeding program in partnership with Southern Illinois University. It was introduced as a thornless variety with large, high-quality fruit and strong resistance to common blackberry diseases such as cane blight. Its long-standing popularity reflects its adaptability, ease of care, and consistent production of sweet, firm berries—making it a trusted choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

Non-GMO Commitment: At The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices.

Growing method: Conventionally grown, due to tissue culture propagation which ensures disease-free planting stock.

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