The olallieberry is a distinct and flavorful cane berry, a hybrid fruit offering a unique addition to any home garden. Its appealing taste and versatile uses make it an intriguing choice for cultivation.
Understanding the Olallieberry Plant
The olallieberry (Rubus ‘Olallie’) is a hybrid fruit developed by the USDA at Oregon State University and released in 1950. It combines loganberry and youngberry genetics, being roughly two-thirds blackberry and one-third raspberry. This cane berry has a trailing or semi-erect growth habit, often requiring support for its vigorous, thorny vines.
Olallieberry fruits are small to medium, 2 to 3 centimeters long, with an elongated, oblong shape. They mature to a glossy, dark purple-black, resembling an elongated blackberry. The flavor is a balanced sweet-tart, more tart than typical blackberries. Its flesh is semi-firm, aqueous, and tender, containing many fine, edible seeds, and its pigmented juice can stain.
Planting Olallieberry Plants
Olallieberries thrive in full sun, requiring at least half a day of direct sunlight for good fruit production. While they can tolerate partial shade, productivity may be reduced.
The soil should be well-drained and enriched with organic matter like compost. Olallieberries are adaptable to various soil types but prefer a pH between 5.5 and 7. Amend the soil with manure or compost before planting.
Plant in the dormant season, from late autumn to early spring in mild climates, or in spring in colder regions when the soil is not frozen. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, moisten the ground, place the root ball, and backfill. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart due to their vigorous growth.
Caring for Your Olallieberry Plant
Consistent watering is important, especially during establishment and dry periods. Olallieberries require about one inch of water per week, or more if conditions are dry. Adequate moisture during budding and fruiting prevents smaller, improperly ripened fruit.
Fertilization supports vigorous growth and fruit production. Apply fertilizer in mid-summer for the first year. In subsequent years, apply in early spring as foliage grows, and again in mid-summer. A balanced fertilizer provides necessary nutrients. Organic options like compost or manure can be applied in late fall or early winter.
Olallieberries produce fruit on second-year canes. After a cane fruits, prune it back to the ground after harvest to redirect the plant’s energy to new growth. In spring, prune second-year canes to about 5 feet to encourage lateral branching and increase fruit yield. Trellising is recommended to support the vigorous, trailing canes, with a trellis or fence 4 to 5 feet tall providing adequate support.
Harvesting and Using Olallieberries
Olallieberries ripen from late May to early July, with a short season. Ripe berries are glossy, dark purple-black, and detach easily from the cane when gently pulled, indicating peak flavor.
Their sweet-tart taste makes them versatile. Enjoy them fresh, or add to parfaits, salads, or fruit medleys. They are suitable for baking into pies, cobblers, muffins, cakes, and tarts. Olallieberries are also excellent for making jams, jellies, preserves, syrups, and sauces. Their unique taste, reminiscent of blackberry with a hint of raspberry, enhances both sweet and savory dishes.