How to Grow Tayberry: A Complete Guide

Tayberries are a hybrid perennial plant producing fruits that are similar to  a combination of raspberries and blackberries. If you only have space for one hybrid berry, growing tayberries is certainly an excellent choice. 

Growing tayberries is quite simple. They are plants that grow vigorously and can be cultivated and trained in the same way as blackberries with their prickly runners that flower then fruit on the previous years' growth. Within just two years, you will receive a wonderful harvest of these delicious large-sized sharp and sweet berries. 

Thinking of adding a new fruit to the allotment? Our guide on how to grow Tayberry will help you get started on your berry-planting journey!

When and How To Grow Tayberry

Tayberries can be grown from dormant bareroots in autumn to early spring or container-grown tayberries can be planted at any time. Water well into well-drained soil in a sunny position and add mulch to retain moisture and suppress the weeds. 

Prune the stems after fruiting; the new growth will produce next season's fruit. Train the shoots, and remove dead or damaged and unruly shoots to expose the tree. When growing tayberries, you can also train the plants to grow fanned against a fence or wall. Free-standing tayberry plants may require stakes for support.

Using the proper support structures plays a crucial role when learning how to grow tayberries. During the fruiting stage, tayberry plants can become quite heavy. As such, growing tayberries requires firm support that is strong enough to take on this added weight and avoid collapse. 

Water regularly until the tayberry plant is established. Container plants require regular watering as compost dries out quickly.

Common Problems With Growing Tayberries

Growing tayberries is relatively hassle-free. However, they can be affected by aphids or raspberry beetles. You can easily take care of this issue by spraying a pest control solution containing deltamethrin after around 80% of the plant leaves have fallen.

Birds are also quite fond of pecking at the ripe fruit. However, growing the canes vertically prevents easy access by birds and keeps your fruit unharmed. 

As an additional precautionary measure when growing tayberries, you may wish to protect your tayberry plant with netting or a fruit cage.

Harvesting and Storing Tayberries

The tayberry plant flowers during June, followed by juicy fruits that darken and feel soft when they are ripened. The fruits will come away from the stem easily when picking if they are ripe and ready.

Learning how to grow tayberries can have many tasty benefits. Tayberries have a distinctive flavour and are perfect for jams and cooked desserts, their flavour is amazing eaten fresh and raw. If needed, tayberries can also be frozen for storage.