Tayberry
Rubus fruticosus x idaeus 'Tayberry'
The tayberry is a Scottish-bred hybrid between a blackberry and a raspberry, producing enormous, sweet-tart red-purple fruits up to 5cm long from July to August. It is more vigorous and heavy-cropping than either parent, with long, arching thorny canes that need strong support. Plant bare-root canes in November–March in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Train the canes onto a post-and-wire system or against a wall. Fruits ripen on the previous year's wood; prune out fruited canes in autumn and tie in new growth. Tayberries freeze well and make exceptional jam, crumbles, and wine.
Plan where to grow Tayberry using our vegetable garden planner.
When to Plant Tayberry
Plant tayberry in November, December, January, February, March. It flowers from May to June.
Time to Harvest Tayberry
Expect to harvest approximately 18 months after planting, usually from July to August.
Companion Plants for Tayberry
- French Marigold
French marigolds at the edge of the planting attract hoverflies whose larvae eat aphids, though the benefit to the fruit itself is anecdotal.
- Chives
Chives make a low, tidy edging under fruit and their flowers attract pollinators; they are traditionally thought to help deter aphids.
- Nasturtium
Nasturtiums are often grown as a sacrificial crop to draw aphids and blackfly away from nearby plants.
Expected Yield
A single mature plant yields 5–9kg of fruit in a good summer.
Pruning Tayberry
Fruit forms on canes grown the year before: after harvest, cut the fruited canes to the ground and tie in the new canes to the wires to fruit next year.
Common Problems with Tayberry
Canes become a tangled, unproductive thicket
Prune rigorously: cut out all fruited canes at ground level in autumn and tie 6–8 strong new canes onto the wires.
Fruits small and dry
Tayberries are thirsty when fruiting. Water deeply once a week in dry spells and mulch with compost in spring.
Birds stripping the crop
Net the plants as soon as fruits start to colour, or plant a decoy berry bush nearby to distract them.
Tayberry: common questions
When should I plant tayberry in the UK?
Plant tayberry from November to March.
How far apart should I plant tayberry?
Space tayberry about 2.5m apart. It grows to around 2m tall.
When is tayberry ready to harvest?
In the UK, tayberry is usually harvested from July to August.
When does tayberry flower?
Tayberry usually flowers from May to June in the UK.
Does tayberry come back every year?
Yes. Tayberry is a perennial and comes back every year, dying back or slowing down over winter and regrowing in spring.
When should I prune tayberry?
Fruit forms on canes grown the year before: after harvest, cut the fruited canes to the ground and tie in the new canes to the wires to fruit next year.
What grows well with tayberry?
Good companions for tayberry include French Marigold, Chives and Nasturtium. See the companion plants section above for why each one helps.
Is tayberry frost hardy?
Yes. Tayberry is hardy and survives a normal UK winter outdoors.
Plan your tayberry in the allotment planner
Drag and drop plants onto your plot and get personalised sowing reminders.
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