Early season blackberries and floricane-fruiting raspberries ripen shortly after strawberries, which makes them ideal crops to extend the berry harvest season. Within the southern region of the US, yields and adaptation vary based on location within the state. Harvest season also varies by state. For example, early ripening blackberry cultivars will be harvested two to four weeks earlier in southern Georgia than in North Carolina.

Although the fruit color of blackberries is standard (Figure 2-1), yield, fruit size, shape, plant architecture, and the season of ripening of cultivars can be quite diverse. Additional information on the blackberry cultivars listed below can also be found online. The recommendations in Table 2-1a, and Tables 2-1b, 2-2a, and 2-2b are based on research trials and grower experience throughout the southern US.

Blackberries perform well throughout most of the states that belong to the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium. Most of the common cultivars have a moderate chilling requirement (number of hours at which temperatures are between 32 to 45°F in winter) and tolerate hot summer climates. Where low chilling occurs—such as southern Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana—some blackberries do not perform as well. Growers in these regions should choose a low chilling cultivar (<400 hours). See Table 2-3 for plant and fruit traits and chilling hours for some blackberry cultivars.

Each year, new caneberry cultivars are released from breeding programs around the world. The University of Arkansas has developed more than 40 blackberries and has been the primary source of cultivars adapted to the southern region of the US. The University of Arkansas maintains a Blackberry breeding page with cultivar descriptions and videos. If you are contemplating planting a new cultivar on your farm, it is best to conduct small trials to determine if they perform well in your area and fit into your marketing plan.

Although raspberries can be grown in some regions in the South, exposure to high summer temperatures that are common in the region for extended periods will slowly weaken plant vigor over time and the plants will die sooner than in cooler northern climates. Fruit perishability also increases greatly with high temperatures during harvest. In general, raspberries produce well in the Southeast at elevations above 2,000 ft. However, research at North Carolina State University has shown that raspberries for local markets can be produced at lower elevations and under high tunnels in some regions, such as the western piedmont of North Carolina. Tables 2-2a and 2-2b include cultivars that have been tested in the states across the region. However, there are several new cultivars that have not been tested and are not listed below but are also worthy of trial if raspberries are known to do well in a particular region.

¹All — The cultivar is recommended for all regions of the state. ↵

²NR — Not recommended. ↵

³Trial — Not enough data; recommended for trial only. ↵

⁴NA — No information available at this time. ↵

For states with regions of very low chilling, see Table 2-3. Chilling hours for cultivars.

¹All — The cultivar is recommended for all regions of the state. ↵

²NR — Not recommended. ↵

³Trial — Not enough data; recommended for trial only. ↵

⁴NA — No information available at this time. ↵

For states with regions of very low chilling, see Table 2-3. Chilling hours for cultivars.

¹All — The cultivar is recommended for all regions of the state. ↵

²NR — Not recommended. ↵

³Trial — Not enough data; recommended for trial only. ↵

⁴NA – Not available at this time. ↵

¹All — The cultivar is recommended for all regions of the state. ↵

²NR — Not recommended. ↵

³Trial — Not enough data; recommended for trial only. ↵

⁴NA— No information available at this time. ↵

* University of Arkansas release. ↵

Figure 2-1. Blackberry fruit from blackberry cultivars. Fruit from these cultivars vary in yield, size, and flavor.

Source: Isabella Norsworthy and Carmen Alyssa Johns, University of Arkansas.

×

Figure 2-1. Blackberry fruit from blackberry cultivars. Fruit from these cultivars vary in yield, size, and flavor.

Source: Isabella Norsworthy and Carmen Alyssa Johns, University of Arkansas.

Print Image