How to Grow Loganberries UK

Regional Planting Calendar

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil texture	Fertile soil, tolerant of light, medium or heavy textures (RHS; PFAF)
Drainage	Well-drained, avoiding winter waterlogging (RHS)
Lifecycle	Deciduous shrub with biennial canes -- each cane grows vegetatively in its first year, fruits in its second, then dies (RHS; PFAF). Self-fertile, and PFAF notes it reproduces apomictically (seed forms without sexual fusion).
Edible parts	fruit

At a Glance

Soil & Growing Conditions

Water: Water well immediately after planting and during dry spells in the first growing season; established plants need little extra water if mulched (RHS)

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Planting and establishment	0	Plant mid-autumn to early spring, spaced 2.5-4m apart depending on vigour, against horizontal wires 45cm apart with the lowest wire 45cm above the ground (RHS). Cut first-year canes back to healthy buds 20-25cm from the ground immediately after planting.
Vegetative growth (first-year canes)	3	New canes grow vegetatively in their first year and are tied in to the support wires; PFAF notes a fast growth rate to about 2.5m. Dislikes exposed, windy sites (PFAF).
Fruiting (second-year canes)	6	Most growth fruits on second-year canes (RHS). Self-fertile, and PFAF notes it reproduces apomictically.
Harvest and pruning	8	Harvest from July onwards; fruit is dark red and sharper tasting than raspberries (RHS). Prune out the old, fruited canes at the base every year after harvest, in summer or autumn.

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Dark red fruit, sharper tasting than raspberries, ready from July onwards (RHS); PFAF records fruit up to 4cm diameter with a pleasant acidic flavour. Ideal for jams and cooking, though it can also be eaten fresh.

Diseases

Grey mould

low

Botrytis cinerea

Soft brown fruit decay; Fuzzy grey-brown mould

Named directly on RHS's own growing-guide page as "grey mould".

Honey fungus

low

Armillaria spp.

Named directly by PFAF.

Raspberry cane spot

low

Elsinoe veneta

PFAF states loganberry is "liable to attacks of raspberry cane spot," though notes the crop is generally reliable among fruiting Rubus species overall.

Pests

Glasshouse red spider mite (two-spotted spider mite)

low

Tetranychus urticae

Named directly on RHS's own growing-guide page as "spider mites".

Birds (fruit)

moderate

Aves

Named directly on RHS's own growing-guide page; netting recommended.

Aphids

low

Aphididae (various spp.)

Named directly on RHS's own growing-guide page.

Raspberry beetle

moderate

Byturus tomentosus

Named directly on RHS's own growing-guide page.

Loganberry Photo Gallery

Vine on a trellis

A loganberry vine trained on a trellis with ripening fruit.

Fruit detail

Close-up of a dark red loganberry.

Cluster at different ripeness

A cluster of loganberries at different stages of ripeness.

Flowers

White loganberry flowers among the leaves.

Leaf detail

A loganberry leaf.

Ripe fruit

A single ripe loganberry on the plant.

Harvested, with scale

Harvested loganberries shown against a ruler for scale.

Bee pollinating a flower

A bee pollinating a loganberry flower.

Ripening on the branch

Loganberries ripening on the branch among the leaves.

References

1. Plants For A Future (PFAF) - Rubus loganobaccus (loganberry)

   Deciduous shrub 2.5m x 2.5m, fast growth. Biennial canes, self-fertile, apomictic. USDA zones 7-10, UK zone 8, hardy to -18°C, dislikes exposed/windy sites. Soil: light/medium/heavy, well-drained, tolerates all but most alkaline soils. Sun or semi-shade, prefers moist soil. Propagation: seed (stratified, sown early autumn), half-ripe cuttings July/August, tip layering July, division early spring or pre-leaf-fall autumn. Pests/diseases: susceptible to honey fungus; liable to raspberry cane spot and mildew, though generally reliable among fruiting Rubus. Origin: probably R. ursinus x raspberry 'Red Antwerp' hybrid, not found truly wild. Edible: fruit raw/cooked, pleasant acidic flavour, up to 4cm diameter. Purple-to-dull-blue dye from fruit.

2. Royal Horticultural Society - How to grow blackberries and hybrid berries (loganberry)

   Loganberry: raspberry x blackberry cross, dark red fruit sharper than raspberries, ideal for jams/cooking or fresh, harvest from July. General hybrid-berry guidance: sunny sheltered site (fruits in light shade too), fertile well-drained soil avoiding winter waterlogging. Plant mid-autumn to early spring, spacing 2.5-4m depending on vigour, uppermost roots ~5cm below soil surface for bare-root. Horizontal wires 45cm apart, lowest wire 45cm above ground. Prune old fruited canes to base after summer/autumn harvest; first-year canes cut back to healthy buds 20-25cm from ground after planting. Water well after planting and in dry spells year 1; mulched established plants need little extra water/feed. Pests: grey mould, raspberry viruses, aphids, raspberry beetle, spider mites, birds (netting needed). Propagation: stem-tip layering mid-late spring.

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.