How to Grow Blackberry, Loganberry and Tayberry
Blackberry, Loganberry and Tayberry are all types of soft fruit which grow on canes. Blackberries, also known as brambles, are a common bush in the countryside where they grow wild. But modern cultivars have been developed which produce bigger, sweeter berries.
Black Butte Blackberry
Loganberries and Tayberries are a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. They are both:
- juicier than a raspberry
- very sweet
- sharper in flavour than a raspberry
Site
- A sunny spot, although blackberries will cope with partial shade. The sun makes them sweeter.
- They need support, so plant them against a wall or along a fence.
Soil
- Prefer rich soil but any soil will do. Digging in well rotted farm yard manure, leaf mould or compost, will produce higher yields.
- Clear the soil of all weed roots.
Plant
- any time between November and March, when the ground is frost free.
- 75 m apart
- In a large hole which will hold the roots spaced out. Cover the roots with soil so that the stem is at the same level in the soil as it was previously (there will be a slight mark on the stem). Firm the soil down well.
- Then cut back the stems to just above a bud about 25cm above ground level.
Cultivation
- Fertilise in February with 3 handfuls of general fertiliser at the base of the plant
- Mulch thickly (about 8 cm) in late March to retain soil moisture and to prevent weed growth
- Tie the new canes into the support system so that they form a fan shape, leaving a space in the middle
- Water well in dry times
- After the first year, all the new canes that come in the summer are tied together in the middle of the fan and allowed to grow upwards. The canes fruit in the second year, so wait for a year after planting!
fanned canes
- When the canes in the fan have finished fruiting cut them down to ground level, pull the new canes down and tie them in place to make a new fan
- Protect the fruit from birds with netting
Harvest
ripe blackberries
- July to September
- Once the berries change colour, are glossy and soft pick every day, or they will go mouldy. Tayberries are a dark red when ripe.
- Wrap fingers around the berry and pull it gently off the plant, leaving the core and calyx behind
tayberries
Pests and Diseases
- The same as raspberries