Adaptability of Floricane-Fruiting Raspberry Cultivars to a High-Elevation Arid Climate

Abstract

Winter-hardy, high-yielding cultivars with good consumer acceptance and few production problems are critical to the economic viability of growing floricane-fruiting raspberries for local consumption in high elevation arid climates. A replicated trial was planted in 2006 to evaluate 16 floricane-fruiting cultivars for suitability to commercial production in the US Intermountain West. Factors evaluated included winter survival, yield, fruit size, fruiting season, consumer preference, and cane infestation by raspberry horntail, the most common cane-boring insect pest in northern Utah. The cultivars 'Royalty', 'Cascade Bounty', 'Georgia', 'Reveille' and 'Chemainus' had the highest cumulative yields over three seasons, which was correlated with a low incidence of visible winter injury. 'Royalty' and 'Chemainus' had fewer raspberry horntail larvae than 'Cascade Bounty' and 'Georgia'. Overall winter injury varied significantly across years, and was more closely correlated with severe temperature fluctuations than with absolute coldest winter temperature. These newer cultivars will provide alternatives to the current industry standard, 'Canby'.