Productivity and Vigor of Sixteen Raspberry Cultivars in Central Pennsylvania

Abstract

Sixteen cultivars of four year old red ( Rubus idaeus, L.), purple ( Rubus occidentalis X Rubus idaeus)and black raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis, L.) plants were evaluated for yield, fruit size, winter injury and vegetative characteristics under reduced pesticide applications in 1989 and 1990. The black raspberries generally yielded better with reduced pesticide applications in the first year, but were badly damaged from anthracnose ( Elsinoe veneta) infections. ‘Jewel’ had the highest yield and largest fruit of the black and purple raspberries. Among red raspberries, ‘Madawaska’ and ‘Newburgh’ produced the highest yields and fruit size of each was large. However the poor flavor of ‘Madawaska’ was a limitation. Black raspberries varied little in cold hardiness; however, there was considerable variation among red raspberries in cold hardiness, with ‘Festival’ particularly hardy over both years, and ‘Willamette’ particularly cold tender. Rapid decline from winter-induced tip dieback on ‘Boyne’ and ‘Sentry’ was probably due to the high level of anthracnose cane lessions. Phenological stages of development were monitored for all cultivars. Dates of first bloom varied 15 days among cultivars, however days from first bloom to first ripe fruit varied from 21 to 43 days.