Rubus 'Loch Ness' Blackberry is valued not only for fruit production but also for ornamental purposes, fitting beautifully into edible landscapes and mixed beds. An erect thornless blackberry cultivar, the plant grows as an upright, self-supporting bush, 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, requiring no trellis, and bears fruit 2 years after planting.
A late-season variety, Rubus 'Loch Ness' Blackberry produces high yields, up to 8 pounds, of firm moderately sweet berries. The bush is hardy to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Quick to root and easy to grow, Rubus 'Loch Ness' Blackberry prefers full sun and moist, well-drained, sandy loam soil in a location protected from wind. Add organic content to enrich the soil; fertilize in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or a 16-16-8; and keep well-watered, mulching around the base to conserve moisture and kill weeds. Pest and disease resistant.
Blackberries are self-pollinating, so multiple plants are unnecessary for fruit production; however, planting two or more varieties with similar bloom times encourages cross-pollination, producing larger yields of larger berries. Planting early, mid-season, and late-fruiting varieties extends the blackberry season from early June to the end of the summer.
