Loch Ness Mulberry Variety Fact Sheet
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Fruit flesh color: Juicy, with an estimated juice content of 80 to 85% of the fresh weight of the fruit.
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Skin color: Shiny black, very dark. Some fruits may have purple highlights depending on exposure and ripeness.
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Size and shape: Large to very large (4 to 5 grams on average), elongated in shape. The fruit is generally 3 to 4 cm long and 1 to 2 cm in diameter.
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Tree Size: Typically reaches between 1.5 and 2 meters in height, up to 3 meters depending on training and trellising. The width can reach up to 3 meters. The growth habit is semi-erect to climbing.
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Fruit ripeness: Mainly in August and September, but can extend into October. Harvesting is staggered.
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Fruit Taste: Sweet, slightly acidic, and fragrant. It starts out tangy, evolving into a sweet, aromatic flavor at full maturity. The sugar/acidity balance is considered superior to many other large-bore varieties. The reference Brix level is between 9° and 12°, with an optimum between 10° and 12°. The flesh is firm and juicy.
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Earliness of the variety: Non-remontant variety ("floricane"), fruiting on the wood of the previous year.
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Fruiting period From August to early October.
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Disease resistance and storage: Good overall resistance to common mulberry diseases and low susceptibility to brown rot (fruit rot). Tolerates winter temperatures down to -15°C to -18°C. Excellent post-harvest storage due to firm fruit. Good tolerance to rain.
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Variety yield: High. Typically between 3 and 5 kg per mature plant. Potentially up to 15 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions. A yield of 10 to 12 tonnes/ha is realistic in France for well-managed plantations.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Yes, self-fertile. A single plant is enough for good production. Cross-pollination is not necessary.
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Commercial use: Suitable for fresh consumption (taste and visual quality) and for processing (jams, jellies, pastries, juices, syrups, freezing). Good suitability for mechanical harvesting.
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Comments: Thornless variety (*Rubus fruticosus* 'Loch Ness'). Greatly facilitates manual and potentially mechanized harvesting. Requires training to optimize harvesting and plant management. Native to England. Good tolerance to calcareous soils, up to a certain level (active limestone ≤ 7%). Good to moderate drought tolerance, but irrigation is recommended in case of prolonged drought. Productive lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Flowering from May to June, white-pink flowers attractive to bees (honey variety). First significant harvest 2 years after planting.
Quick read / the essentials on Loch Ness Mulberry
The Loch Ness Mulberry is today an essential reference for any fruit farm focused on the production of quality thornless blackberries. This variety, developed in Scotland in the 1990s, is attractive for its balance between productivity, hardiness and commercial quality. Thanks to its European origin, it adapts perfectly to French climatic conditions, which makes it a safe bet for producers. As a specialist wholesale supplier of mulberry plants , Bairiverse highlights this high-performance variety, both in intensive professional cultivation and for direct sales or processing channels.
Thornless, easy to train and very vigorous, it produces very large (up to 5 g), elongated, shiny black, sweet and low-acid fruits. Their excellent post-harvest stability makes them ideal for long circuits or freezing. The Loch Ness mulberry tree is self-fertile, productive (up to 15 tonnes/ha) and not very susceptible to disease. It begins production in the second year, with a productive lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
As a specialist wholesale supplier of mulberry plants , Bairiverse supports market gardeners in choosing high-performance varieties, with appropriate technical monitoring and advice on management. For those wishing to purchase Loch Ness mulberry plants , Bairiverse offers batches available to order, at the best quality-price ratio. Take advantage of our team's field expertise to integrate this European standard into your orchard.
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Origin and agronomic interest
The Loch Ness mulberry (Rubus fruticosus 'Loch Ness') is a thornless variety developed in Scotland in the 1990s. Unlike many American varieties, it is a European strain, perfectly adapted to the climate and growing requirements in France. Its thornlessness makes it a particularly easy variety to harvest , both by hand and for semi-mechanized harvesting.
Today it is one of the most widely cultivated mulberry varieties in Europe , particularly due to its balance between vigour, productivity and fruit quality.
Fruit characteristics
The fruit of the Loch Ness mulberry tree is a major asset for professionals. It is very large , with an average weight of 4 to 5 grams , a length of 3 to 4 cm and a diameter of 1 to 2 cm . Its elongated shape , its shiny black skin when ripe, sometimes with purple highlights, and its firmness make it a particularly attractive fruit from a commercial point of view.
The flavor is sweet, balanced, slightly acidic at the beginning of maturity then aromatic and sweet at full maturity. The sugar level (Brix) is generally between 10° and 12° , a sign of excellent taste potential. The fruit is juicy , with low acidity, suitable for fresh consumption as well as for processing (juice, jams, pastries, freezing).
The fruits have excellent post-harvest shelf life . Their firm texture facilitates transport and conservation , a determining factor for long-distance sales.
Fruiting and precocity
The variety is non-remontant (floricane), that is to say that fruiting takes place on the wood of the previous year . Flowering takes place from May to June , and the main harvest is spread from August to September , or even October depending on climatic conditions. It is progressive , which allows the picking to be spread over several weeks.
The Loch Ness mulberry tree is self-fertile : no other plant is required to obtain a bountiful harvest.
Agronomic behavior
The plant reaches an adult height of 1.5 to 3 meters , depending on training. The habit is semi-erect to climbing , which makes trellising essential : a system of 2 to 3 wires stretched at a height of 1.5 to 2 meters is recommended. This system facilitates harvesting, improves ventilation and limits humidity-related diseases.
The variety has vigorous growth and a bushy but compact development . It comes into production from the 2nd year after planting , with a productive lifespan of 12 to 15 years .
Resistance and adaptation
The Loch Ness mulberry tree is distinguished by its good overall resistance to diseases , particularly the main fungal diseases of mulberry trees. It is not very susceptible to brown rot , which helps to limit harvest losses.
Regarding growing conditions, this variety tolerates drought well , provided that it is irrigated during prolonged periods. It adapts to most neutral to slightly acidic , well-drained soils. It can be susceptible to root asphyxiation if the soil is too compact or poorly drained.
Cultivation on ungrafted soil is the most common and recommended method. No specific rootstock is required.
Performance and commercial valuation
Under professional conditions, the yield per adult plant is generally 3 to 5 kg , with peaks of up to 5 kg and more in intensive cultivation. The yield per hectare is estimated at between 5 and 15 tonnes , with a realistic target of 10 to 12 tonnes/ha in France for a well-managed crop.
The fruits of Loch Ness lend themselves to various commercial outlets :
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Fresh consumption , thanks to their size, their visual appearance and their pleasant taste
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Food processing , into jam, jelly, juice, syrup, pastries
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Freezing , thanks to their good resistance
Conclusion
The Loch Ness mulberry tree offers an excellent compromise between yield, hardiness, fruit quality and ease of management . It is particularly recommended for French farms wishing to promote the production of thornless blackberries, suitable for direct sales, distribution or food processing . Thanks to its versatility , it constitutes a reference among professional varieties of mulberry trees .
To summarize: Loch Ness Mulberry
The Loch Ness Mulberry ticks all the boxes for profitable and simplified cultivation: thornless, very large, firm and juicy fruits, staggered harvest, high productivity and very good post-harvest stability. This floricane variety (fruiting on wood from the previous year) is perfectly suited to professional cultivation in France. Its vigor and hardiness are assets for regular, sustainable production with few constraints.
Thanks to its taste qualities (10 to 12 °Brix) and its versatility (fresh, processing, freezing), it meets the expectations of the French and European markets. Training on wires is recommended to get the most out of its semi-erect shape. In well-drained soil, with irrigation if necessary, this mulberry tree gives its best from the 2nd year. For farms looking for a stable, high-quality variety with little susceptibility to disease, it is a strategic choice.
Bairiverse , your specialist wholesale supplier of mulberry plants , rigorously selects Loch Ness plants to ensure each grower receives optimal yields and a rapid return on investment. Whether you want to expand your range or renew your rows, purchasing Loch Ness mulberry plants from a reliable partner is an essential step. Our personalized support, our logistical responsiveness and our stock of certified plants ensure you have a stress-free growing experience.
Trust Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of mulberry plants , to buy quality Loch Ness mulberry plants , for efficient, valuable and sustainable production on your plots.
