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Bramble Variety Testing in SW Michigan

Author: Eric Hanson - Michigan State University; Annemeike Schilder - Michigan State University; Steve Berkheimer - Michigan State University
Creation Date: 01 January 2003
Last Reviewed: 01 January 2003

This article was reviewed by the editor of The Ontario Berry Grower for technical accuracy and appropriateness.

This trial was planted on a loamy sand soil at South West Michigan Research station in 1999 to evaluate 7 fall-bearing varieties, and 15 summer-fruiting raspberries in replicated plots. Fall fruiting varieties were evaluated from 2000 to 2002, and summer bearing raspberries will be harvested form 2001-2003. Plots are picked for yield and average berry weight, and half-pint samples are assessed for appearance and percent rotten fruit after 1-2 days at 35° F and 1-2 days at 65° F. Winter injury to summer bearing varieties was assessed by measuring the length of die-back on 20 canes per plot each May.

Table 1: Primocane Fruiting Raspberry performance at SWMREC.
Data are means of three seasons (2000-2002).
Variety Yield (1000 lb/ac) g per berry zappearance z% rotten berries 1st picking date Height (feet)
Autumn Bliss 4.6 2.7 2.5 18 6 Aug 4.1
Autumn Britten 2.2 2.7 2.6 33 6 Aug 3.9
Caroline 5.4 2.6 3.4 6 17 Aug 4.0
Dinkum 3.8 2.4 3.0 15 15 Aug 3.7
Heritage 3.5 2.0 3.1 7 24 Aug 4.3
Polana 3.3 2.1 3.1 17 6 Aug 3.2
Ruby 3.5 2.7 2.7 22 26 Aug 4.6

zAppearance rated on a scale of 1 ( very unattractive) to 5( very attractive) and rotten fruit counted after 1-4 days storage.

Polana data from 2000 were means of only 2 plots because one plot was planted in 2000.

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Table 2: Summer fruiting raspberry performance at SWMREC.
Data are means of two seasons (2001, 2002).
Variety
(origin) 		Yield
(1000 lb/ac) 		g per berry 1st picking Cane height (ft) Winter kill (inch/cane)
Boyne
(Manitoba) 		4.9 2.0 27 Jun 4.8 2
Canby USDA
(Oregon) 		4.2 2.0 29 Jun 4.8 3
Encore
(N.Y.) 		3.0 2.9 4 Jul 4.0 1
Glen Ample
(U.K) 		2.9 3.1 3 Jul 4.5 1
Killarney
(Manitoba) 		5.8 2.2 27 Jun 4.1 0
Latham
(Minnesota) 		3.2 2.0 4 Jul 5.3 1
Lauren
(USDA) 		1.6 1.9 1 Jul 5.0 6
Malahat
(B.C) 		2.0 2.5 1 Jul 4.2 10
Nova
(N.S.) 		3.7 2.3 24 Jun 4.6 1
Prelude
(N.Y.) 		4.1 1.9 23 Jun 4.4 0
Qualicum
(B.C.) 		2.1 2.5 7 Jul 4.1 4
Reveille
(USDA) 		5.7 2.5 25 Jun 4.5 1
Titan
(N.Y) 		2.6 2.9 1 Jul 4.3 3
Tulameen
(B.C) 		1.8 2.7 8 Jul 3.7 15
K81-6
(N.S) 		3.7 3.0 5 Jul 4.0 2

Editor's notes:

Raspberry varieties originating in B.C and USDA, are often not winter hardy in most of Ontario.

Blackberries were also included in this trial, but space does not permit publication here. For a full copy of this report contact the OMAFRA Agricultural Information Contact Center at 1-877-424-1300

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