You planted a tayberry in your garden? Then it is now important to optimally care for the combination of raspberry and blackberry so that you can harvest plenty of fruit.
At first glance, the tayberry seems to be an exotic fruit from unknown realms. However, Derek Jennings and David Mason were far from Thailand when they set out to breed the tayberry at the Scottish Crops Research Institute. Because we are not dealing with any Asian fruit. Rather, the plant, named after Scotland's longest river, is quintessentially European.
Nevertheless, the successful combination of raspberry and blackberry is largely unknown in our latitudes. Completely wrong, in our opinion. Because the juicy, sour fruits are almost twice the size of the classic berries. In addition, the tayberry is robust and easy to care for. So why not take a closer look at the Tayberries and find out what needs to be considered when cultivating the successful fruit combination.
Water the tayberry properly
You will need some finesse to water the tayberry. The plants do not tolerate prolonged drought or waterlogging. Therefore, check the plant regularly. If the soil starts to dry out, you should reach for the watering can. Tayberries have the highest moisture requirements during the growing season. As a shallow root, the tayberry is particularly susceptible to waterlogging. The water requirement is lowest in early spring and late autumn and watering should only be done sporadically.
» Tip: Apply a layer of mulch regularly. This keeps the moisture in the soil longer.
In short:
- even soil moisture necessary
- Dry soil and waterlogging are not tolerated
- Water young plants daily
- high moisture requirement during fruiting
- Water less in spring and autumn
Fertilize the tayberry properly
The Tayberry can be fertilized in spring and after the harvest season. During the spring a fertilizing of a copiousFlower formation is beneficial, a second fertilization in autumn makes sense to let the plant gather strength for the coming blossom. Organic materials in the form of compost, manure, horn shavings, peat or stinging nettle brew can be used as fertilizer.
If compost is mixed into the substrate during planting, the young plants are supplied with long-term fertilizer for the first season. It is also advisable to mulch regularly. This protects the soil from drying out and a mulch layer made of leaves, peat or bark mulch also provides valuable nutrients.
In short:
- Fertilization in spring and autumn
- use organic fertilizer
- mulch regularly
- Care tips at a glance
Cut the tayberry
Pruning measures on the tayberry should preferably be carried out in spring. Less strong shoots are cut back radically. Only five to seven shoots should be left.
The side shoots are cut back in midsummer. Only two eyes are obtained. This will produce fruit in the following season. To ensure controlled growth, the shoots should be attached to a trellis. Shoots that are too long should also be shortened. The plant should not exceed two meters in height. If the shoots shoot up unnecessarily, this is at the expense of growth habit and fruit formation.
Once the harvest is complete, all shoots on which fruit was to be found can be shortened close to the ground.
» Caution: The shoots of the tayberry have thorns.
Detecting Tayberry Diseases
The Tayberry is a very hardy guest in the orchard. Diseases and pests are extremely rare. Tayberries are also largely spared from worms, which usually prefer berries.
Due to the close relationship, however, it cannot be completely ruled out that tayberries are afflicted by typical raspberry diseases.
» Bortrytis fruit rot
The fungus can be recognized by a greyish coating on the fruit. The berries begin to rot and become hard. Plants are mainly infected during the flowering period. The spores are spread by rain and wind. Prompt harvesting and regular pruning of the plants can have a preventive effect.
Raspberry rod gall midge
The damage appears primarily on young plants. The tails turn brownish to violet. The eggs are laid in the cracks of the rods. If you water it enough, you canprevent an infestation. Cut back affected plants generously.
Overwinter Tayberries
Tayberries are considered hardy and do not necessarily need protection during the cold season. Young plants are even less robust and tolerate winter protection in the form of garden fleece, leaves or brushwood. Potted plants are also less robust and should overwinter in a sheltered location. The soil can be protected from frost with a layer of leaves or brushwood.
Important facts at a glance:
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Casting | ❍ Since the plants tolerate neither drought nor waterlogging, they must be watered with care. ❍ The soil should be kept evenly moist. ❍ This works better if a layer of mulch is regularly applied. ❍ During the growth phase, the water requirement increases. ❍ Immediately after planting, the young tayberries need watering every day. |
| Fertilize | ❍ Organic fertilizer is ideal for the tayberries. ❍ The potting soil should be mixed with compost or peat. ❍ Fertilizers should be used in spring and late summer. ❍ A regularly used layer of mulch can serve as a fertilizer substitute. |
| Cut | ❍ Plants should be cut back in spring. ❍ Only the strongest shoots are retained. ❍ After the harvest, all canes that bore fruit can be shortened to the ground. ❍ If the rods grow very tall, they are also extended to a maximum length of two meters so that a bushy growth habit develops. |