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Tayberry

Looking for a berry that’s made for home gardens, not supermarket shelves? The Tayberry (Rubus fruticosus x idaeus) is a rare treasure — a cross between blackberry and raspberry that produces soft, red-purple berries bursting with rich, sweet-tart flavour. Delicate and unsuited to commercial transport, these juicy fruits are best enjoyed fresh from your own patch — or turned into jams, sauces, crumbles, desserts, or frozen for later. Fragrant white to pale pink flowers appear in spring, giving way to a generous crop of ripening fruit through the summer. Grown in the ground or large pots, Tayberries thrive on a trellis or fence, producing heavy crops from trailing canes. Self-fertile and suited to cool to arid climates, they’re easy to train, easy to love, and impossible to buy.

SKU: TCTAYBER001 Category: Edible Produce Tags: Rubus fruticosus x idaeus, Tayberry

Description
Additional information

Description

Tayberry (Rubus fruticosus × Rubus idaeus)

The Tayberry is a vigorous, deciduous hybrid bramble from the Rosaceae family, developed in Scotland and named after the River Tay. A cross between blackberry and red raspberry, it combines the best qualities of both, producing large, sweet-tart, red-purple berries with a rich, aromatic flavour. These soft, cone-shaped fruits ripen through summer, growing on thorny, trailing canes that can reach up to 1.8 metres long. Tayberries are self-fertile and produce fruit on second-year canes (floricanes), offering generous harvests each year. Best enjoyed fresh due to their delicate nature, Tayberries are also excellent cooked, preserved, or used in desserts. They are rich in antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients.

Climate Suitability

Suited to cool to arid climates, Tayberries thrive with winter chill and benefit from consistent moisture, mulch, and some afternoon shade in hot regions. Morning sun and good airflow help minimise fungal issues.

When to Plant

Plant from winter to early spring while dormant. In frost-prone areas, wait until the soil is workable. Young canes may need protection from heavy frost using frost cloth. Alternatively, start in pots and transplant once conditions improve.

Where to Plant

Choose a permanent, sunny to part-shaded position, ensuring at least six hours of sunlight daily. Afternoon shade is helpful in hot regions. Shelter from strong winds and train trailing canes along a trellis or fence for support and productivity. Use rich, well-drained soil (pH 5.5–7.0) enriched with compost, manure or complete fertiliser.

How to Plant

Before Planting: Soak canes in clean water for 1-2 hours to rehydrate roots and reduce transplant shock
Spacing: 2 m apart
Depth: Crown just below soil level; spread roots and backfill gently
Aftercare: Water well; mulch generously to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Growing in Pots

Use containers 40–50 cm wide and deep with well-draining potting mix and compost. Position in full sun to part shade, protected from strong winds. Train canes on a trellis or fence, ideally in a fan shape, with floricanes on one side and primocanes on the other.

Water regularly and fertilise more frequently than in-ground plants. Refresh the potting mix every few years. Ideal for gardeners seeking control in smaller spaces.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Deep watering encourages root strength. Avoid waterlogging. In pots, monitor closely and mulch well to reduce evaporation.

Fertilising

In early spring, apply a complete fertiliser to support cane and fruit growth. Use granular, fish emulsion, blood and bone, or composted manure. Apply a lighter feed in late spring/early summer. Avoid overfeeding. Feed potted plants more often with diluted liquid fertiliser.

Pruning

Tayberries fruit on second-year canes (floricanes). Train in a fan shape: primocanes on one side, floricanes on the other.

First Year: Let primocanes grow. Tie loosely, spaced for airflow.
Second Year: After harvest, remove spent floricanes at the base. Retain 5–7 strong new primocanes.
Third Year Onwards: Repeat cycle. Train new growth on the opposite side for balance and airflow.

Tip-prune new canes at 1.2–1.5 m to encourage branching and more fruit. Remove weak or overcrowded growth regularly.

Harvesting

Fruit ripens from January to February, depending on location. Pick when berries are deep red-purple, soft, and detach easily. Handle with care and consume shortly after harvest.

For the best flavour, allow full ripening on the plant. Harvest every few days to promote continued fruiting.

Tayberries are perfect fresh, but also ideal for jams, sauces, crumbles, pies, and freeze well for use in smoothies or baking.

Pests & Diseases

Birds are a common problem — use netting to protect ripening fruit.

Tayberries may be affected by cane blight, rust, or botrytis, especially in humid areas. Promote airflow, avoid overhead watering, and remove affected growth.

Monitor for aphids and mites in warm weather. Treat early with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.

With care, Tayberries are hardy and resilient, especially in cool to temperate regions.

Safety & Handling

Tayberries grow on thorny canes — wear gloves and sleeves when handling. Supervise children near plants.

Berries are non-toxic and safe when ripe. Keep the area tidy to avoid tripping over supports or trailing canes.

Supplied as a bare-rooted cane.

Additional information

Price Code	D – Purple Pack
Botanical Name	Rubus fruticosus x idaeus
Quantity in Pack	1 Cane
Harvest Time	January – February
Planting Time	Winter to Early Spring
Planting Depth	Plant so that the base of the cane sits just below the soil surface, typically up to 10 cm deep. If the crown (where the roots meet the base of the cane) is visible, use it as a guide and ensure it is positioned just under the surface. All roots should be fully covered with soil, and it’s fine for a few centimetres of the lower cane to be buried if needed to support stability and root development. Avoid planting so deep that a large portion of the cane is submerged. Once in place, firm the soil gently around the roots and water in well to help the plant settle.
Planting Width	Space plants 2 metres apart to allow room for growth, ensure good airflow, and prevent overcrowding, which can lead to disease.
Soil	Prepare a well-drained site by digging compost or aged manure into the top 20–30 cm of soil to improve structure and support healthy root development. Tayberries prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Avoid planting in heavy clay or waterlogged areas, as poor drainage can lead to root rot. Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated throughout the growing season.
How to Plant	Choose a permanent position that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day, with some protection from harsh afternoon sun. A spot sheltered from strong winds will also help protect developing canes and fruit. Tayberries should always be grown with a support structure such as a trellis, wire system, or fence to train the trailing canes and keep fruit off the ground. Before planting, soak bare-rooted Tayberry canes in clean water for 1–2 hours before planting to rehydrate the roots and reduce transplant shock. A small amount of seaweed solution can be added to the water to encourage early root growth, but this is optional. To plant, dig a hole wide enough to comfortably spread out the roots without bending or crowding them. Position the cane so the base sits just below the soil surface—typically up to 10 cm deep—with the crown (if visible) just beneath the surface. Cover the roots with soil, firm down gently, and water in well to eliminate air pockets. Space plants at least 2 metres apart to allow room for vigorous growth and airflow. After planting, apply a layer of mulch around the base to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the roots. Tayberries can be grown successfully in large containers. Use a pot at least 40–50 cm deep and wide with good drainage. Follow the same planting steps as for garden beds, ensuring only one plant per pot to allow adequate space for root development and cane growth. Add mulch after planting to retain moisture and help regulate soil temperature. Always provide a support structure, such as a trellis or frame, to train the canes as they grow.
Watering	After planting, water deeply to help settle the soil around the roots and support early establishment. Consistent moisture is essential for healthy growth and fruit development, but it’s important to avoid waterlogging, which can cause root rot and poor plant health. Water deeply once or twice a week in the ground, adjusting for hot or dry weather, and keep the soil evenly moist—especially during flowering and fruiting. In pots, more frequent watering may be needed as container soil dries out faster; check the top few centimetres and water when it begins to dry. A layer of mulch around the base helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce watering frequency. During winter, while the plants are dormant, reduce watering significantly. In cool or wet climates, natural rainfall is often enough. Only water if the soil becomes dry, especially in pots or during extended dry periods, to prevent the roots from drying out completely.
Fertilise	In early spring, apply a complete fertiliser to support new cane growth and fruiting. Suitable options include granular fertiliser, fish emulsion, blood and bone, or well-composted manure. Spread it evenly around the base, keeping fertiliser a few centimetres away from the cane, and water in well. Apply a lighter feed in late spring or early summer to maintain vigour as fruit develops. Avoid overfeeding, as this can cause soft, floppy canes, reduced flowering, and increased susceptibility to pests and disease. Signs of under-fertilising include pale or yellowing leaves, stunted cane growth, poor flowering, and reduced fruiting. Potted plants may need more frequent feeding—use a diluted liquid fertiliser every 4–6 weeks during active growth to replace nutrients lost through watering.
Pruning	Tayberries fruit on second-year canes (floricanes), so annual pruning is essential. Train in a fan shape with primocanes (new green canes) on one side and floricanes (older, woody fruiting canes) on the other. In the first year, allow primocanes to grow and tie them loosely to one side. These won’t fruit until the following season. In the second year, floricanes will flower and fruit—cut them to ground level after harvest. Select and tie 5–7 strong new primocanes to the opposite side, removing any weak, damaged, or crowded growth. In later years, mature plants may support up to 10 well-spaced canes. Tip-prune primocanes at 1.2–1.5 metres by cutting just above a node—this encourages lateral shoots, which will carry more fruit the following season.
Harvest	Tayberries ripen from January to February, depending on location. Harvest when berries are deep red-purple, soft to the touch, and detach easily with a gentle pull. The delicate fruit leaves the central plug inside when picked, unlike raspberries. Take care when picking, as the canes produce thorns. For the best flavour, allow fruit to fully ripen on the plant. Harvest every few days to encourage continued fruiting. Handle with care and consume shortly after picking. Tayberries are perfect eaten fresh, but they’re also excellent for jams, sauces, crumbles, pies, or freezing for later use in smoothies or baking.

Tayberry

Description

Additional information

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