Firethorn
Wear thick gloves when pruning or training — the sharp thorns are a genuine hazard, especially when wall-training in a confined space.
Care
Tolerates a north-facing wall reasonably well.
Once established.
Adaptable, well-drained soil of most types.
Trim after flowering to shape, taking care not to remove too much of the berry-bearing wood; a light additional trim in late summer keeps trained specimens tidy.
A general feed in spring, and a little sulphate of potash where berrying has been poor. Avoid nitrogen-rich feeds: they give soft growth that is both thornier work to prune and far more prone to scab and fireblight.
Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, in gritty compost under cover. Wear thick gloves — the thorns are the real obstacle here, not the rooting.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchFeed as growth resumes. how ›
- JuneTrim after flowering to shape, preserving berry-bearing wood. how ›
- OctoberEnjoy autumn/winter berries, valuable for wildlife.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchFeed as growth resumes. how ›
- JuneTrim after flowering to shape, preserving berry-bearing wood. how ›
- OctoberEnjoy autumn/winter berries, valuable for wildlife.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Blackened, scorched-looking shoots that fail to recover — a notifiable bacterial disease.
What to do. Cut out well below the affected area, disinfect tools, seek advice if extensive.
How to spot it. Dark scabby patches on fruit and leaves.
What to do. Improve airflow.
Popular varieties
Questions
Firethorn: is it hardy?
H6: Hardy in the vast majority of UK gardens. It survives down to −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
For a few years while young, often grown as wall-trained specimens.
Firethorn: when do you prune it?
Trim after flowering to shape, taking care not to remove too much of the berry-bearing wood; a light additional trim in late summer keeps trained specimens tidy. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in June.
Firethorn: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in May–June.
When do you feed it?
A general feed in spring, and a little sulphate of potash where berrying has been poor. Avoid nitrogen-rich feeds: they give soft growth that is both thornier work to prune and far more prone to scab and fireblight. Feeding months, UK: April.