I normally allow 5 - 7 years when grown from seed, for a tree or shrub to start flowering, if from a cutting then maybe a year or two less, as for growing in a pot, this plant grows to about 15 ft, with a spread of about 12 ft, so it really needs to be in the ground, although if it,s very small at the moment, you may be able to keep it in a pot for a year or two, Derek.

Thank you Derek. I have been told that the Blackthorn will not fruit for about 20 years, which seems an awfully long time. I couldn't find any information on the internet about the blackthorn in particular, so I was interested in other people's experiences. Have you planted a blackthorn?

Pam

Hi Pam, no I don,t grow any fruit trees, I prefer flowering plants and shrubs, now mainly perennials, but the advice is a general guide to how long it should take, I don,t think it will take 20 years, if it did I don,t think anyone would grow them, Derek.

I don't think I would voluntarily put a blackthorn in a garden. We have lots of wild ones round us and they sucker something dreadful, coming up everywhere. I am for ever chopping them off.They would not fruit while small enough to be contained in a pot. I think they do take a long time to start bearing, and then you don't usually get a very heavy crop. In fact the only thing to be said for them as a garden shrub is the very pretty flowers in early spring. Honestly, I would grow something else instead. You don't say where you live, but they do grow wild in lots of places and you can pick the fruit there.