Loganberry Worcester Early Thornless (Available March /April )

The Loganberry has been around some time since the 1880s introduced by Judge James Logan in California by crossing a Pacific coast Dewberry with a European red Raspberry. Loganberries are reliable croppers fruit normally from mid July until late August but this variety is earlier cropping producing 80% of its fruit mid June to mid July.

The history of Worcester Early Thornless can be traced back to the 1930s in Worcestershire when they were grown in large quantities for the military for juice & canning. They have a high vitamin C content. No longer grown commercially because of their short shelf life and out of favour with Raspberries being sweeter. Totally thornless for trouble free picking which can be daily as the plants come into production.

This variety came to our attention as a result of contact with Paul Jennings a fruit enthusiast in Worcester who has been growing & propagating this variety from cane tips for over 14 years. He has researched its history as far as possible and it is a distinct variety fruiting earlier, mid June to mid July, than the usual variety LY654.

Paul will provide us with rooted tips in 9cm pots, as in the photo taken in September, late March for collection or delivery. They will not be available before then because they need the time to root before being severed from the parent plant.

PLEASE READ THE BELOW INFORMATION IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ORDERING

Only a small quantity of rooted tips will be available, about 20. If you do order with other trees or bushes and require delivery they will be sent seperately at a small extra cost in a postal tube through the Post Office. If you order on its own and wish delivery opt for the delivery option in the checkout process and we will reduce the carriage cost to £7.50 before any payment is taken.

Paul donates much of his own produce – fresh fruit & jam to Magg’s Day Centre in Worcester, a shelter for homeless people. We will donate 50% of sale proceeds similarly.

The Loganberry ripens initially bright red before turning dark red or purple. For sweetness resist picking when bright red but wait for them to turn dark red or even purple but before they become too full of juice to handle.

Being a hybrid they are vigorous so plant 4-5m apart. They will not sucker like raspberries. Each year from the parent plant basal shoots will grow that will fruit the following year. Fruiting should be underway within a couple of years of planting. Prune to ground level the canes that have fruited to leave room for the new canes, that will bear fruit the next year, to develop into.

Very manageable plants – no suckering and heavy cropping successionally for well over a month. A good alternative to raspberries. They may well succeed where raspberries do not even on allotments where the unknown history of the site makes it difficult for them to succeed.  Growing into sturdy, robust plants they are likely to be productive for 10+ years. Non organic plants.