Adaptability of Blackberry 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 blackberries for local consumption in high elevation arid climates. A replicated experiment was planted in 2006 to evaluate 19 cultivars and 2 numbered selections of blackberry for suitability to commercial production in the US Intermountain West. Factors evaluated included winter survival, yield, and fruit size. Winter bud survival varied among cultivars and over seasons. Semi-erect and erect cultivars averaged the highest winter bud survival and trailing cultivars consistently had the poorest winter bud survival. Per plant yields were higher when bud survival was greater, with trailing types producing the lowest average yields and semi-erect types the highest. Production from primocane-fruiting types was slowed by cold temperatures before full production was reached and consequently, yields were lower. The cultivar Triple Crown had the most consistently high overall yield (highest yield reliability index) and was among the cultivars with the largest berry size. ‘Illini Hardy’ had the highest yield reliability index among erect types. In general, semi-erect types had the highest and most consistent yields for the U.S. Intermountain West.