Tayberry - Rubus fruticosus x ideaus -  €6 per plant 

Tayberry is a cross between a Blackberry and a Raspberry and named after the River Tay in Scotland, where it was first bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute. It is an incredible blend - the fruit is the size of a big raspberry with the sweetness and juiciness of a blackberry, but helpfully does not spread as profusely as the blackberry. Tayberries produce consistently higher yields than Loganberries and the fruit is large - sometimes up to 5 cm in length.  The fruit is at its best when it has matured to a purple red colour and can  eaten straight from the plant but also lends itself well to being cooked, frozen and for making jam. To order this plant please contact us balkanecologyproject@gmail.com. 

Context

  • native region: Europe
  • native habitat: 
  • family: Rosaceae

Pests and Predators

  • ​Raspberry beetle
  • Raspberry leaf and bud mite 
  • Raspberry spur blight 
  • Raspberry cane blight, 
  • N.B We have had no problem with any pest or diseases with  our plants 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi-shade or  full sun 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 7
  • Prefers well drained soil
  • Mulch with compost  every spring for optimum yields
  • Water when dry in summer  
  • Annual pruning required for optimum productivity

Overview

  • Bare root, approx. 40 - 80 cm tall canes  
  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m by 1.5 m at a fast rate
  • In flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from June to October. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees.
  • The plant is self-fertile. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
  • Can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. 

Characteristics

  • form: medium sized shrub
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: multi-stemmed, suckering roots  
  • height x width (m): 2 x 1.5
  • years to bearing fruit: 1 year  
  • productive life span: 10+ years 

Products 

  • Fruit:  August- Oct . Great eaten fresh and made into pies and jams 
  • Leaves: dried leaves for tea making, 
  • Shoots: eaten raw when young , make good rabbit and goat fodder
  • Roots: can be boiled and eaten 
  • Flowers: pollinated by bees. 

Functions, behaviours



  • Plants send out new shoots from underground stems called stolons. These can be dug up and transplanted.
  • Summer-fruiting raspberries, which are ready for harvesting in early summer are also available.
  • Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus
If you would like this plant please send an email to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project