Loch Ness

Loch Ness was patented in 1989 as a semi-erect blackberry cultivar with large fruit size, winter hardiness, high yield and earliness of ripening.
This cultivar exhibits vigorous sturdy shoots which are erect during the early part of the season. These become semi-erect as growth proceeds though the tendency to become semi-erect becomes less marked in older established plants. The stems are angular, typically pentangular, thornless and may be either green or pigmented. The immature tip portion is hairy, but hairs are inconspicuous or absent in sub-terminal parts of the stem. The canes of Loch Ness variety usually become a deep purple in the autumn, but areas of green remain, principally towards the bases of the canes and in unexposed areas. Established plants commonly produce about 5 or more replacement canes from root-stock buds. Fruiting laterals are usually approximately 30 cm in length, where white flowers and fruits are presented.
The fruits are blunt-conical in configuration and large. When fully ripe they are a deep black and slightly glossy with little or no downiness. The flavor is typical of blackberries with slight acidity. Fruit weight of Loch Ness blackberry is typically approximately 6 g but ranges up to approximately 10 g. Fruit dimensions commonly range from approximately 25 to 40 mm in length and from approximately 20 to 30 mm in breadth. Berries are firm, have excellent storage capability, but there is small tendency for frozen fruit to turn red, especially if not fully mature when picked.
Fruit yield is influenced considerably by plant spacing and weather conditions. For plants spaced 2 m apart in rows which are 3 m apart a typical yield is about 9 kg per plant.
Loch Ness variety has average susceptibility to common diseases and pests that affect blackberries. No excessive susceptibility has been found.
Winter hardiness is excellent. Widely used in commercial production.