Tayberry blackberry variety

Tayberry plant was selected from a cross between maternal parent blackberry Aurora and red raspberry. Selection was made by Scottish Horticultural Research Institute, UK. This variety resembles the Loganberry is some respects, but is superior to it with respect to fruit size, yield, fruit color, mode of presentation of fruit, and ease of propgation by root cuttings. Tayberry is vigorous, have sturdy long shoots, spreading in young plants but later tending towards a more semi-erect habit. Typical canes commonly are approximately 3 to 5 m long. Spines are dense, elliptical in shape and highly pigmented at their base and tip. Leaves are a deep green but red pigmentation is prominent, especially in young leaves, around the margins of older leaves and in the petioles. The leaflets are very slightly convex, usually five in number and have a distinct relief between the veins. Suckering in the true botanical sense does not occur, but established plants commonly produce from approximately 5 to 9 (typically 6-7) replacement canes from root-stock buds. Fruits are well presented in fruiting laterals of about 25-30 cm length. They are typically deep red or purplish red and change to a deep purple when over-ripe, large and of long conical shape. The fruits of the Tayberry are darker than those of the Loganberry and tend to be more purple in color than those of the Loganberry which are more red in color. They have a slightly glossy appearance with only very slight downiness. They separate from the plant with the plug remaining attached. Ripening commences early and extends over a long period. The fruit weight commonly ranges from approximately 5 g during a dry season, and from approximately 7 to 11 g during a wet season. On the full-sun places berries can wither. The fruit is similar to that of the Loganberry with respect to juiciness. Firmness is moderate. The fruit stores well when deep frozen. Tayberry has low resistance to crown gall disease and gall midge pests. Winter hardiness is good.