Early-season blackberries and floricane-fruiting raspberries ripen shortly after strawberries, making them ideal crops to extend the berry harvest season. Within this region, yields and adaptation will vary based on site. Harvest season will vary by state as well. For example, early-ripening blackberry cultivars will be harvested two to four weeks earlier in southern Georgia than in North Carolina. Size and shape of blackberry cultivars vary (Figure 5). More information on many of the blackberry cultivars listed below can also be found online at the University of Arkansas's Commercial Fruit and Nut site. The recommendations in Table 2 and Table 3 are based on research trials and grower experience throughout the southern United States.

Each year, new caneberry cultivars are released from various breeding programs around the world. It is best to perform small trials of new cultivars to determine whether they perform well in your area and fit into your marketing plan.

John Clark, a blackberry breeder at the University of Arkansas, has produced a number of videos that discuss the characteristics of blackberries released from his program. Here are links to some of them:

Blackberries perform well throughout most regions of the states that are a part of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium. Most of the common cultivars have a moderate chilling requirement and tolerate the hot summer climates. Where low chilling occurs, such as southern Georgia, some blackberries do not perform as well. Consult your local extension service for recommendations.

Although raspberries can be grown in some regions in the South, exposure to high temperatures common in the South for extended periods will slowly weaken plant growth from year to year. Fruit perishability also increases greatly with high temperatures during harvest. In general, raspberries produce well at elevations above 2,000 feet. However, our research 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.

Figure 5. Blackberry fruit from thornless blackberry varieties. Fruit from many of these cultivars vary in size and flavor.

Absalom Shank, NC State University

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Figure 5. Blackberry fruit from thornless blackberry varieties. Fruit from many of these cultivars vary in size and flavor.

Absalom Shank, NC State University

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