The boysenberry is a rather unknown hybrid of different species, but is ideal for the house garden and snack garden. With us you will learn everything about the unusual boysenberry as well as its requirements in terms of location and care.
The aromatic boysenberry is a descendant of many different Rubus species and thus combines, among other things, the growth and fruit color of the blackberry and the shape of the loganberry. We introduce you to the unusual hybrid and give tips on growing boysenberries in your own garden.
Boysenberry: origin, flowering period and properties
The boysenberry (Rubus ursinus x idaeus) probably originated in California in the 1920s. From a cross of loganberry (Rubus x loganobaccus) with a multicrossed progeny of raspberry (Rubus idaeus ), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and American dewberry (Rubus arboriginum) it is said to have emerged. It bears the name of the breeder Rudolf Boysen and was marketed as a promising new blackberry alternative in the USA and later also in New Zealand from the mid-1930s. Today, New Zealand is the world's largest producer of boysenberries, but the Rubus species has remained largely unknown in Europe.
The boysenberry reaches a height of 100 to 180 cm as an upright to overhanging, blackberry-like shrub. Numerous thin shoots climb along the ground and can thus form thickets. The leaves are in threes, toothed and bright green in color until autumn. There are thorny and thornless varieties of boysenberries, and they generally have medium-thorny thorns. The flowering period of the white, five-petalled flowers begins in June and lasts into August. Insects such as bumblebees (Bombus) and bees (Apis) like to pollinate the flowers as they provide nectar and pollen. The approximately 3 cm long, elongated to cylindrical boysenberry aggregate drupes ripen from mid-July to September and change color from red to dark purple and black. The taste of the boysenberry can be described as sweet and slightly tart, fruity and freshdescribe.
Planting boysenberries: when, where and how to proceed
Boysenberries prefer fresh, humus-rich and deep soil. The location should be sunny to semi-shady. To begin with, the plants can be planted in pots with a volume of at least 15 liters and permeable, nutrient-rich plant substrate - such as our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil. The plants should be supported in the pot as well as in the bed and provided with a climbing aid. The best time to plant boysenberries is in late fall, between October and late November or March. A planting distance of at least 100 to 120 cm between the plants should be maintained.
Before planting, boysenberries benefit from enriching the soil with organic matter such as mature compost or a soil activator. If the soil at the future location is well loosened, you can start digging the planting hole. This should be at least twice the volume of the plant's root ball. Then put your boysenberry bush in the planting hole, fill it up with soil and slightly compact the planting hole all around. Finally, the berry bush should be watered extensively.
The most important care measures
Caring for the boysenberry is not particularly difficult and the plants are generally robust and adaptable. Once the plants are well established, watering is only necessary during longer dry periods. If space is limited, the numerous long tendrils of the shrubs should be reduced to 8 to 12 shoots and attached to a trellis or wire frame. This also makes harvesting easier and prevents fruits from lying on the ground. The boysenberry bears fruit only once per shoot - so the canes are cut off completely and close to the ground after harvesting in autumn.
Boysenberries benefit from maintenance fertilization in spring. Here, either mature compost or a long-term fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, can be worked into the surface around the bushes. Plants in pots should be transferred to a larger pot with fresh potting soil after two to three years and are also given a dose of slow-release fertilizer with in when repottingthe fresh substrate.
Boysenberries are hardy to about -12 °C, which is why the rods should be protected from severe minus temperatures in cooler areas that are prone to frost. Covering the base of the plant with leaves and the rods with jute, fleece or needle branches has an insulating effect and significantly reduces the risk of frost damage. Boysenberries in pots should be overwintered frost-free or only spend the winter outdoors with well-protected roots.
Harvesting and Use of Boysenberries
The high-yielding boysenberry bushes can be harvested between mid-July and September. You can tell when they are ripe by the change in color of the fruit from red to a dark violet to black colour. The fruity aroma of the boysenberry is only fully developed when it is fully ripe. The fruits are picked by hand and should be eaten within a few hours. The fruit can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, but it will lose its taste. The fruits are therefore eaten fresh or processed into aromatic jams and boysenberry jams. Cake toppings, fruit wine, syrups and liqueurs can also be made from the boysenberry.
The tayberry (Rubus fruticosus x idaeus) is a particularly aromatic hybrid of blackberries and raspberries. We introduce you to the hybrid berry and give tips on planting, care and harvesting.