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Prickly bush please!

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Plants
Hi all we have had an outbreak of crop theft at the allotment and think maybe thieves are coming over the fence. It's 8 foot tall topped with razor wire but doesn't seem to be enough! 
Thinking of planting something prickly against fence to help deter them. Preferably fast growing not too expensive and berries for birds would be an added bonus. Any suggestions? 
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2018
    Gooseberries ... flippin' prickly things, gooseberries ... you could grow them as cordons against the fence .... but as @pansyface says, are you sure it's human beans .... unless they're digging up tatties or making off with courgettes it may well be something furred or feathered. 


    Gooseberry prickles

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We have berberis around our oil tank on police recommendation, he said if it didn’t deter them they would certainly be able to collect DNA! 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A Kiftsgate rose or Rambling Rector or Wedding Day?  They grow to at least 10 metres so can be trained along the fence, have lovely white flowers in June and then hips in autumn.

    Pyracantha is evergreen, thorny, spring blossom, autumn berries so shelter and food for birds and insects.  Can be trained to cover fences.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    pyracantha, flowers bring in the bees in the spring and berries for the birds in winter and massively spiky! plus can be pruned quite hard (almost to topery standard)
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Another vote for pyracantha.
    I also have a rose 'American Pillar' that covers a lot of fence very quickly and it's horribly thorny but very pretty, if a little PINK.
    Blackthorn if you've room for a shrub rather than only climbers. Nasty stuff but you could have an allotment collective sloe gin/vodka club  :)
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • blameitonthedogblameitonthedog Posts: 122
    Yet another vote for pyracantha.  The thorns are vicious, it becomes dense/impenetrable and the birds here love nesting in it and the berries.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    It's definitely humans one woman had 40 broad bean plants stripped overnight we are changing the key and hoping that will put a stop to it. If they do try coming over the fence I think pyracantha is the way to go. Will suggest it to other allotment holders on our side of the site. Thanks for the advice! 
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Berberis julianae ; a real nasty !!
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Broad beans are a lot of work, and not worth risking a climb over razor wire for (IMO).  I expect it is someone with a key.. and possibly a farmers market stall.  That is a lot of risk for just filling your own belly, someone is likely selling them on for cash.  

    A hungry person would go for non cooking crops, like tomatoes, carrots, peas, and fruit.  
    Utah, USA.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I have had all my gooseberries stolen and so has everyone else on the allotment but the other thefts are concentrated around one area accessible over the fence and unfortunately my allotment is within the radius of the area where the thefts are occurring. I honestly wouldn't mind a hungry person taking a few spuds or carrots but this is ridiculous and is it a coincidence that I bought organic gooseberries at a local shop for £12 a kilo?? 
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