A Comparison of Fall Raspberry Cultivars for a High-Elevation Arid Climate

Raspberries have become a popular option for small-acreage farms in Utah, where fresh local fruit is closely associated with the summer tourism industry.  However, small acreage producers have come to rely heavily on older summer-bearing cultivars.  Fall-bearing cultivars are not as prone to “sunburn” as summer-bearing types since they begin producing after the hottest temperatures have passed. A multi-site replicated trial was planted in 2006 to evaluate 12 fall-bearing cultivars for suitability to Utah’s alkaline soils and high-elevation arid climate.  The most detailed data were collected on 10 cultivars at the Kaysville research farm (41° 01' N lat., 1330 m elev., 164 day freeze-free season).  Plots were evaluated in 2007 for stand establishment, and from 2008 to 2010 for yield, fruit size and fruiting season.  The highest yields were for the cultivar ‘Joan J’, averaging 3.58 kg per row meter, followed by ‘Polana’,’ Caroline’ and ‘Polka’ with 2.59, 2.40 and 2.35 kg/m, respectively.  ‘Polka’ and ‘Caroline’ gave the most consistent yields from year to year.  ‘Polka’ and ‘Joan J’ were the earliest fruiting with average first harvest 22 days before ‘Heritage’, followed by ‘Summit’ and’ Polana’ at 19 and 18 days before ‘Heritage’, respectively.  Early, high yielding cultivars will be required to provide economically viable yields in Utah’s high elevation arid climate.