Floricane/Summer Bearing Red Raspberry
PRELUDE - Well accepted early variety. Growers like the early season primocane crop combined with good berry quality. In some locations, Prelude produces a primocane/fall crop.
NOVA - In the trifecta of summer bearing key varieties, a very consistent second variety in ripening time. Nova is dependable for winter hardiness, overall plant vigor and being highly productive.
KILLARNEY - In similar ripening window as Nova, some growers prefer this variety for its performance, better fruit quality, and flavor in their conditions.
ENCORE - Best alternative for a late floricane bearing raspberry. Encore is not the most productive, but fruit quality is excellent. Encore is also the best variety to connect to the primocane/fall bearing season.
Primocane/Fall Bearing Red Raspberry
POLKA - Polka has been a standard variety for several years. Polka continues to perform with good production and flavor as one of the earliest fall bearing varieties.
JOAN J - Similar in ripening time to Polka, Joan J is the only thornless variety. Joan J has shown high production in our fruit program consistently for over a dozen years. In Massachusetts, Joan J survives through the winter to generate a floricane crop. The variety has very good overall fruit quality and when a darker colored berry is not a problem with customers, Joan J is a good option.
HIMBO-TOP - Nice quality and good-sized fruit that comes in later than Polka and has performed well for growers, particularly in tunnel production. After some shortages last year, we expect a great crop of plants in 2018.
BP-1 -Relatively new in our program, it’s caught of the attention of customers because of its high-quality fruit, good size, and great flavor. Well adapted for direct and local markets and a great candidate for tunnel or field production. Fruiting time is about 7 days later than Imara. In our field this year, the production has lived up to expectation. We believe there are continuing opportunities with BP-1. A Tulameen x Polka cross, it has the consistency of Polka and the flavor of Tulameen.
Primocane/Fall Bearing Red Raspberry
PRIME-ARK® FREEDOM - Excellent fruit qualities, particularly great flavor and size. We are still learning how to get optimum production levels. Communicating with growers in your specific area who have Freedom in production may be the most effective way to learn how it performs in regards to the best tipping practices.