Blackberry (bramble) ‘Thornless Loganberry’ (Rubus fruticosus) – hardy soft fruit – 15 cm pot – 50 cm tall – Set of 2

Yes, the Tayberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) is specifically selected for its completely unarmed stems, meaning they are free from thorns or prickles. This is one of its major advantages over wild blackberries or certain thorny loganberries. This characteristic makes harvesting comfortable and safe for the whole family, including children. Maintenance (pruning, trellising) is also much more pleasant to carry out. Its vigor and productivity are in no way diminished by this lack of thorns.

Tayberry fruits (Rubus × loganobaccus) generally ripen between June and August, depending on the region and the year's weather conditions. They are harvested when they are a deep, slightly glossy red and pull away easily from the stem. It is advisable to pick them in several passes, as the fruits do not all ripen at the same time on a single stem. Loganberries keep for two to three days in the refrigerator and freeze very well. They are excellent fresh, but also made into jam, coulis, tart, or crumble.

The Tayberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) is a hybrid resulting from the cross between a raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and a blackberry (Rubus ursinus), which gives it a unique flavor combining the fruity tartness of the raspberry with the sweet roundness of the blackberry. Its fruits are generally longer and larger than those of the common blackberry. The plant has a bushy and climbing habit, similar to the blackberry, but the unarmed stems of the Thornless variety make it a much easier plant to handle. The vitamin C and antioxidant content is very high, comparable to its two parents.

The Tayberry blackberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) can indeed be grown in a container on a sunny balcony or terrace, provided you choose a pot at least 40 to 50 cm in diameter to allow the root system to develop properly. You will need a sturdy support (a wall-mounted trellis or robust stake) against which to tie the canes, which can grow to over 1.5 to 2 m. Watering must be more regular than when planted in the ground, as containers dry out more quickly, especially in summer.

The Tayberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) is a climbing shrub whose long stems require staking on a suitable support: wires stretched between posts, wire mesh, or a trellis against a wall. When planting, guide the young stems and tie them up regularly to prevent them from growing in all directions. Renewal pruning is carried out after harvest: cut off all stems that have borne fruit at the base (they will never bear fruit again), then carefully stake the new green shoots of the year, which will bear the next crop.

The Tayberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) thrives in cool, loose, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (ideal pH between 6 and 7). It tolerates a wide variety of soil textures, from sandy to loamy soils, provided they do not become waterlogged in winter, which would cause root rot. At planting, enrich the bottom of the hole with well-rotted compost or decomposed manure to provide the nutrients needed for a quick start.

Yes, the Tayberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) is an excellent nectar-producing plant. In spring, it produces an abundance of white-pink flowers, very rich in nectar and pollen, which attract honeybees, bumblebees and many wild pollinating insects. This attractiveness to pollinators is doubly beneficial: it contributes to garden biodiversity and directly improves fruit yield, as good pollination results in more numerous and better-formed fruits.