Loch Ness Blackberries

Variety characteristics

Loch Ness Blackberry – a premium variety with high yield and excellent fruit quality

Loch Ness is one of the best-rated commercial thornless blackberry varieties, valued by professional growers as well as wholesale and retail buyers. Originating from the United Kingdom (Scottish Crop Research Institute), it has long been a standard in European professional production thanks to its exceptional productivity, fruit durability, and predictable cultivation parameters.

Variety characteristics

Loch Ness is a variety that is:

• thornless – making harvesting and maintenance easier and reducing fruit damage during work,
• vigorous – with strong growth and canes suitable for training,
• high-yielding – considered one of the most productive varieties in commercial cultivation,
• with a stable ripening period – fruiting typically begins in the second half of July and continues until September.

The plants regenerate well after winter, and the variety shows high tolerance to diseases common in blackberries, making it predictable and safe for large-scale production.

Loch Ness fruits are valued for:

• large, uniform size – berries weigh around 6–8 g, often larger under optimal agronomic conditions,
• deep, attractive color – an intense black desirable in the fresh fruit market,
• firmness and density – excellent post-harvest durability and resistance to transport,
• a delicate shine that enhances market appeal,
• good, mild flavor – not overly acidic, with a balanced taste at full maturity.

Thanks to these qualities, Loch Ness is suitable both for fresh consumption and for processing, where high raw material quality and efficiency are required.

Loch Ness is considered by many growers a reliable, stable foundation of production. Its key advantages include:

• high yield, enabling excellent commercial results,
• uniformity and attractive appearance, appreciated by retailers and consumers,
• exceptional storage and transport durability, minimizing losses,
• ease of cultivation due to thornlessness and vigorous growth,
• versatility – excellent for fresh consumption, freezing, and processing,
• good adaptation to European climate conditions, including Poland.

Summary

The Loch Ness blackberry is a premium-class variety – predictable, efficient, and widely chosen by professional growers. Its large, attractive, and durable berries meet the needs of the fresh fruit market while ensuring strong production performance. It is a variety suitable both for establishing new plantations and for enhancing existing orchards.