What Type of Blackberry Plants Produce the Sweetest Berries?

Prime-Jim or Prime-Jan

• The University of Arkansas is the origin of Prime-Jim and Prime-Jan blackberries; both cultivars were introduced in 2004. These thorny berry plants produce fruit with a firm consistency and a sugar content of about 8 percent, according to the university. Prime-Jim blackberries become ripe during the summer, around June 3, and the plant produces sweet fruit for about a month. Prime-Jan berry bushes yield fruit shortly after, around the eighth of June. The University of Arkansas recommends these blackberries for the home garden, but cautions that the fruit is not ideal for shipping or storing, so it must be cooked or eaten right away.

Chester Thornless

• The Chester Thornless winter-hardy blackberry plant produces rather large berries that have a sugary flavor. The fruits are also particularly juicy, and ripen in the latter part of summer, usually in August; the plant will bear berries for several weeks after. According to the Vegetable Gardener website, Chester Thornless blackberries are not fully ripe and ready to be eaten until they are easily removed from the plant with minimal pressure. Chester Thornless blackberries are firm enough for shipping, which is why they are a favorite among chefs; the berries are ideal for cobblers and smoothies.

Triple Crown

• It takes about five weeks for the Triple Crown blackberry plant to yield moisture-rich fruit with a candy-like flavor, according to the De Groot Nursery website. After the first harvest, the blackberries will continue to appear on the plant for another 30 days. Triple Crown blackberries are a hybrid cultivar created by the Beltsville, Md., USDA branch and the Pacific West Agricultural Research Service. Triple Crown blackberry bushes are able to withstand harsh winters like Triple Crown plants, but may ripen slightly earlier than the Chester.

Darrow

• The Nature Hills Nursery say Darrow blackberries have a taste that is similar to honey. These berries are often eaten raw because of their rich, sweet flavor, but are also suitable for making juice and baked goods like cobblers and pies. The berries reach their full ripeness in July, and display an especially deep purple color that is nearly black. Darrow blackberry bushes handle cold temperatures well, making them ideal for home gardeners in the northern U.S.

Himalayan

• Himalayan blackberry plants grow abundantly in the western U.S. and are often considered extremely invasive plants. The berries have a pronounced, sweet taste and reach their full ripeness in the middle of summer. Since the plants tend to take over the garden or lawn, especially in areas that are partly shaded and have moist soil, the University of Washington doesn't recommend this blackberry bush for planting, as it grows wild on its own. The university also warns that birds in your yard could facilitate the spread of the blackberry plant; when the birds eat the berries, the seeds that pass through the animals' digestive tract tend to sprout more readily.