Thornless blackberries Don't risk pricking yourself on unforgiving blackberry brambles during harvest time - grow some thornless varieties instead.

Varieties including black satin, Merton thornless and Oregon thornless will provide a less painful picking in August and September, but may be slightly more difficult to grow than their thorny relatives.

Blackberries can be grown in most conditions but prefer free-draining, moist, acid soil and will tolerate a little shade, making them ideal if you have a lot of overhanging trees.

They are vigorous, producing roots at the point from where their stems touch the ground and during the first year will put on several metres' growth. They will need support the following year when lateral shoots appear on the climbing stems. The shoots flower and produce fruits during the summer then die off in winter.

If you have a small garden, go for Merton thornless, which has short canes. Black satin is more vigorous, producing huge black conical fruits.