Loganberry: Care, Origin & Planting

The loganberry "Loganberry") is a rather unknown hybrid of two native species. Here you can find out everything you need to know about planting and caring for this exotic plant.

The loganberry (Rubus × loganobaccus) is a randomly created species hybrid (i.e. a crossing of two species). raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and blackberry (Rubus caesarean section Rubus), which is rather unknown in this country, but enjoys great popularity in the USA. Here you will learn everything you need to know about the history of the loganberry, planting and propagation and of course the right care.

Loganberry: origin and history

The loganberry came about rather by accident in the 19th century. In the 19th century in the garden of California judge and gardener James Harvey Logan when he was trying to grow a new type of blackberry. However, he did not pay attention to the raspberry planted right next door, which happened to be mixed with the blackberry (Rubus caesarean section Rubus) crossed. When planting it out, Logan realized that it had to be an interspecies hybrid as the new berry had both blackberry and raspberry characteristics. Growth and fruit size were similar to blackberries, but color and appearance of the fruit were very similar to raspberries. Thus the loganberry was born. Initially, this was still quite unknown, but soon it became more and more popular both in commercial production and among hobby gardeners. Because it is not only rich in vitamins and tasty, but also more robust and resistant than conventional ones raspberry varieties and blackberry varieties.

Loganberry: Properties & Similar Species

Below we have put together a small overview of the properties of the loganberry and similar species.

loganberry (Rubus × loganobaccus): On the one hand, loganberries are robust to frost and drought and disease-resistant, but on the other hand they are prickly and extremely vigorous, which can make harvesting significantly more difficult. The taste profile results in a combination of raspberry and blackberry, which is pleasantly mild and tasty.

Tayberry (Rubus fruticosus x Rubusidaeus): The Tayberry, also a hybrid of blackberry and raspberry, comes from Scotland and makes few demands on the soil, but is susceptible to waterlogging. The berries are oblong, dark red and have a sweet and sour taste that is most reminiscent of a raspberry. More information about Tayberry is in this special article.

Youngberry (Rubus caesius 'Youngberry'): The youngberry is also a hybrid of blackberry and raspberry and thus a close relative of the loganberry. The berries are juicy, fleshy and very sweet, but have the disadvantage that they can only be stored for three to four days.

Buy Loganberry

You can find loganberries and their related species all over the internet, but through the obvious one Most likely, it will also gain popularity with the gardener or your nursery trust. When buying, you should make sure that the planting material comes from a region with a similar or the same climate, which ensures good adaptability to your garden. It is also important that you get - if possible - healthy seedlings that have been tested for bacteria and viruses. Look out for the new, still white roots of the berries on the edge of the pot. If these are visible, the plant has the best prerequisites for growing quickly.

Plant loganberries

The loganberry not only resembles its two relatives, raspberry and blackberry, in appearance, but also in terms of location, claim and planting. Of course, you will still receive detailed instructions for planting the loganberry below.

Loganberry: location and claims

The loganberry makes very few demands on the respective location. It is important to note here that the plant is not in the blazing sun. It prefers rather sunny to semi-shady locations. If the plant is completely in the shade, a loss of yield is to be expected, but this does not harm the plant itself. The soil should be dry to fresh. Good aeration and a high humus content are important here to ensure maximum yield and healthy plant growth.

Planting loganberries: when and how to do it

Loganberries can theoretically be planted all year round, as long as the temperatures don't drop below freezing. However, the best season for planting is autumn, as the roots can develop well over the winter months.

But now to practice: Find a sunny to partially shaded location and dig a hole that is about 5 to 10 cm larger than your pot on each side. Loosen up the soil – our Plantura is particularly suitable as a substrate Organic tomato & vegetable soil. This is not only ideal for vegetables, but also for berries.

If you have heavy loamy or clayey soil, it is advisable to loosen it up with some sand or gravel. Put in the berry bush and fill in the rest with the mixed soil. Now press the fresh soil loosely and water the bushes properly. When planting, also keep a distance of about two meters between the individual shrubs, as they are extremely vigorous.

Summary: Planting loganberries

• dig hole
• Mix, loosen and enrich the soil
• Use berry bush
• Fill up with mixed soil
• Water thoroughly

Tip: For berry bushes of all kinds, a wall or a wire frame (trellis) is best suited as a framework, as it is important to tie in the tendrils once a year. But you can find out more about that later in the article.

Grow Loganberry

The easiest way to propagate the loganberry is to pull layerers. In spring or late autumn, find the tip of a long tendril, carefully bend it down to the ground and bury part of the tendril in the ground. But beware: the tip of the shoot must still protrude from the ground. The sinker will take root by autumn or winter and can be easily separated from the mother plant. This can now be replanted anywhere.

Cultivate Loganberry

Loganberry care is relatively easy and time-consuming due to its steed nature and disease resistance. Here's more on how to keep your berries happy.

Pour loganberry

The loganberry is extremely robust and only needs to be watered in exceptional cases and in very dry locations. Too much water, especially in heavy soils like loam or clay, could create waterlogging, which can lead to root death.

Fertilize loganberry

Loganberries are best fertilized in the fall after harvest and in the spring before budding. Bark mulch is best suited here in combination with our Plantura Organic universal fertilizer, which has the decisive advantage of ensuring a long-term effect and can thus optimally supply the plant with nutrients.

Cut loganberry

Since the loganberry is extremely vigorous and the tendrils can grow up to five meters in length in a year, it is important to cut them regularly. Therefore, thin out the tendrils a bit over the course of the growing season to create a well-aerated canopy.

It is best to cut off the approximately two-year-old tendrils or all diseased and stunted tendrils after harvesting above the ground. Dispose of them immediately to prevent disease and pests. It is important that you do not throw the diseased plant material on the compost, otherwise the pathogen can spread. If you should have forgotten the cut, it is still possible to make up for it by the end of February. The young shoots can be tied to the wire frame immediately afterwards. The wire frame enables upright and even growth, which in turn facilitates all work steps.

Loganberry: Common Diseases and Pests

The berry bushes are normally extremely robust and healthy. However, the appearance of aphids, blackberry rust and gall mites can still occur when the plants are weakened. One of the main enemies of fruit crops is the gray rot fungus (botrytis), which occurs when moisture accumulates in the foliage and spreads to the tendrils. If your plant is infested, cut out the affected tendrils generously and discard the dead wood.

More detailed information on the care and prevention of Diseases of berry bushes you'll find here.

Loganberry: Ingredients and Recipe

Loganberries are juicy, sweet and have a high content of vitamin C and trace elements such as calcium and phosphorus. These ingredients are important for the health of skin, teeth and bones. In addition, vitamin C inhibits free radicals, which can damage the cell. Just like vitamin C, anthocyanins, the plant pigments contained, have a cell-protecting and radical-inhibiting effect. These properties make the berries a popular “superfood”.

The loganberries are versatile: They are suitable for direct consumption, as a cake topping, boiled down to jam, stirred into yoghurt or processed into ice cream. Simply use the loganberry as a substitute for raspberries and blackberries in conventional recipes to give them a special touch. Here we present our favorite loganberry recipe:

Poppy seed cake with loganberry cream

• 120 grams of butter
• 60 grams of sugar
• 5 eggs
• 120 grams of sugar
• 90 g grated nuts
• 1-2 packets of vanilla sugar
• 190 g poppy seeds (grated)
• 2 pinches of baking powder
• rum

Cream together the butter, sugar and egg yolk and then add the vanilla sugar, baking powder, flour, poppy seeds, a pinch of salt and rum. Mix well. Beat the egg whites and carefully fold in the nuts. Finally stir the two masses together and bake in a buttered, floured baking tin at 180 °C for approx. 30 min. bake.

If you are still interested in special berry varieties If you are interested, you should definitely check out this article here.