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flORICANe/SuMMeR beARING Thornless Blackberries

U.S. Plant Patent #20,891 Natchez is a recent release from the university of Arkansas breeding program. This is the earliest ripening thornless variety with very high production potential. Very large and good tasting berries can be harvested during a 3-5 week season. Due to its semierect growth habit, Natchez performs best with a trellis. We highly recommend this variety. zones 5-9.

U.S. Plant Patent Applied for Propagation prohibited by law NEW! looking for the perfect blackberry variety? The last release from the premier blackberry breeder, Dr. John Clark, at university of Arkansas – ponca, might just be it! One of the sweetest and most flavorful blackberry varieties seen yet, it will appeal to home gardeners and local market growers. Commercial growers will love its yield potential and post-harvest fruit quality as well. ponca ripens shortly after Natchez and before Caddo; meeting an important early ripening window. In trials, plants have shown excellent cane health exhibiting no unusual susceptibility to rusts nor anthracnose. Winter hardiness is comparable to Ouachita with very limited injury to a low of 1’f. best in zones 6-9.

U.S. Plant Patent to be applied for. High quality, productive floricane-fruiting black berry cultivars intended for fresh market use by John Clark at the university of Arkansas. “It has overall high fruit quality, excellent postharvest fruit-handling potential, consistent high yields and excellent plant health,” Clark says. early results show Caddo ripening between Natchez and Osage, with comparable yields to Osage and Ouachita. Size has been larger than both Osage and Ouachita, holding size through the harvest season. We highly recommend growers trial this new and interesting variety. Hardiness is anticipated in zones 5 – 9.

U.S. Plant Patent #17,162 This thornless variety has excellent quality fruit, with firm, sweet, attractive berries. fruit ripens before Navaho. Winter hardiness appears to be less than Navaho, similar to Apache. plant has very erect canes, and intermediate vigor. plants also appear resistant to anthracnose, double blossom/rosette and no orange rust has been seen on any plants. We highly recommended it for the Mid-Atlantic, West Coast and South based on excellent grower results. best in zones 6-9.

H TRIPlE cROwN

Recommended for home gardeners. from the uSDA-beltsville and the pacific West Agricultural

Research Service. The Triple Crown plant is semierect and thornless and bears large, flavorful fruit. Ripens earlier than Chester and is similar to

Chester in winter hardiness. Triple Crown would be a good choice to help extend the blackberry season for home gardeners. Grows best in zones 6-9.

H cHESTER

Recommended for beginners.

Considered one of the more winter-hardy and productive thornless varieties available, Chester produces large, high-quality fruit that ripens in early- to mid-August. fruit has good flavor when fully ripe and does not soften or lose its shiny black color in hot weather. plants are vigorous and show resistance to cane blight. Grows best in zones 5-9.

NEW!

U.S. Plant Patent #22,449 prime-Ark® 45 is a thorny, primocane-bearing blackberry with an erect growing habit. primocane berries are medium-sized while floricane fruit is larger. Trials indicate the variety is very productive. fruit holds up well after picking and is suitable for shipping. The floricane fruiting season is after Natchez and before Ouachita. early indications are that the primocane crop ripens later than primeJim. Ripening may be too late for some northern areas, but will extend the blackberry season in regions with a long enough growing season. We would recommend prime-Ark® 45 as an outstanding primocane-bearing blackberry. best in zones 5-9.

U.S. Plant Patent #26,990 prime Ark freedom was the first thornless primocane variety to be released by Dr. John Clark and the university of Arkansas blackberry breeding program. It has an upright growing habit and the fruit flavor is excellent. production on its floricanes is several days earlier than Natchez. prime Ark freedom is not recommended for the shipping market, but is a great choice for local commercial distribution and home gardeners. This is a very good variety and is highly recommended. We are still learning how to grow freedom for maximum production. Grows best in zones 5-9.

Floricane/ Summer Bearing Blackberries

Primocane/ Fall Bearing Blackberries

THORNLESS THORNLESS BERRY SIZE FLAVOR FIRMNESS THORNLESS ZONES Natchez* Vl e f y 5-9 ponca* l e+ f y 6-9 Caddo* Vl e f y 5-9 Ouachita* l e f y 6-9 Triple Crown l e M y 6-9 Chester l G f y 5-9

prime-Ark® freedom* l e M y 5-9 prime-Ark® 45* Ml G f N 5-9

BErrY SizE: S-small / M-medium / l-large / Vl-very large FLAVOr: e-excellent / G-good / f-fair FirMnESS: Vf-very firm / f-firm / M-moderately firm THOrnLESS: y-thornless / N-has thorns zOnES: See zone Map, page 10