Loganberry

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 fruiting from mid July until late August. 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. A thornless clone.

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.