Was I sold a blackberry instead of a tayberry?

[keble]

Two years ago I impulsively added a tayberry to my order from an online fruit specialist. The first summer it didn't do much but this summer it has produced lots of flowers and berries: small black round berries, quite acidic, more suited to a pie than eating: a poor hedgerow blackberry. The plant label shows an elongated red berry. Do you think the reputable online fruit specialist got the plants mixed up? Unfortunately I have lost the receipt and don't know if the supplier was Blackmoor, Victorian Nursery, Keepers etc. I buy a lot of plants from Columbia Road Market on a Sunday and have got used to surprises - eg a white camellia actually flowering shocking pink, a red honeysuckle blooming yellowI. But that seems fair with market purchases. I am not familiar with tayberries and also wondered if perhaps it was moved to a more favourable position, it might actually produce the larger berry? It is in a shady sheltered west facing corner. But perhaps I should just compost the damn thing (very thorny)? Any advice welcomed!

[Scarlet]

A photo would help but my Tayberries have finished a while ago. Blackberries are out at the moment. Although I would say that it took a few years to get a decent crop from my tayberries....they are sharp, I like them straight of the bush but my OH would very much prefer them in a pie. They are elongated not round.

[keble]

Just imagine a very small blackberry - that's what I've got. I see where it might take a few years to get a decent crop but can't believe the berry itself starts off small round and black one year and turns into an elongated red berry subsequent years......I think I got a dud. Thanks, Scarlet.

[veggiechicken]

Can you show us a photo of the label too?
Blackmoor labels don't have photos, if that helps.

[Scarlet]

Just been trying to find a photo of mine!
Picked last year 15th July

[keble]

Yes, that's pretty much what the berries in the photo on the label look like. Thank you for the information on Blackmoor labels - I am happy to rule them out then as the source of this mix up. They've always provided fantastic plants and service.

[Scarlet]

Have they got fruit on them now?
I would say that mine did take a while to get settled and the fruit on it in the early days was t anywhere near that size...they needed lots of feed and good overwinter mulch.

[DannyK]

You say it's very thorny. Are they like blackberry or raspberry thorns. Tayberry should be bristly like raspberry.

[veggiechicken]

Could it be a loganberry? They can be vicious!

[Scarlet]

I posted this the other day for Captain....my Tayberries are really thorny

[keble]

Here's a photo of the 'tayberries' with some autumn bliss raspberries. As you can see, they are small, round and black - sour blackberries. The thorns are real prickles rathee than bristles. Thank you, all. I think I should uproot these and try again with a new plant.

[veggiechicken]

They're blackberries!
Just a wild suggestion............could you have planted your "tayberry" where there might have been blackberries previously? Just wondering whether you have 2 plants together - maybe the "tayberry" has failed and the bramble taken over.

[keble]

Yes, Veggiechicken, I'm afraid you're right: blackberries ans not very good ones at that. No, no chance there were blackerries in the bed previously. This is a lesson in keeping receipts/record of purchases!

[veggiechicken]

If you've had it for 2 years you have very little comeback on the seller anyway. A year is about the max, I think!
I have a thornless blackberry I bought years ago. Every year it flowers prolifically, the fruit form and get big - but they never ripen, just seem to stay green. Every year, I say I'll dig it up...............

[keble]

Actually, I think a good supplier would acknowledge that mistakes can be made and would cut some sort of deal. Maybe not a straight out replacement but perhaps a discount on a new plant. I've had great after-sales service from those that I mentioned as well as from Ken Muir and Pennard Plants. At the very least, a good supplier would be interested to learn that a rogue had somehow infiltrated the stock. Again, all the companies I mentioned welcome feedback. ( Victorian Nursery is the only one I haven't had much experience with, from the original list.)