Prime Ark-Freedom Blackberry

Prime-Ark® Freedom Blackberry

The first Primocane Thornless Erect blackberry in Plant World. Date of release - 2013 plant patent to be applied for. Fruit Size - Fruits of Prime-Ark® Freedom are very large, with floricane fruits averaging 9 g in Arkansas and slightly less for primocane fruits. This is larger than even Natchez berries in Arkansas. In California, fruits weighed as much as 16 g for primocane fruits. Flavor/Sweetness - Average soluble solids (a measurement of sweetness) of Prime-Ark® Freedom was 10.4%, slightly lower than Prime-Ark® 45 (11.4%) and similar to Natchez. Flavor ratings for Prime-Ark® Freedom were the same as for Prime-Ark® 45, and higher than Natchez, but lower than Ouachita and Osage. Yield: - Floricane fruit yields have been comparable to Prime-Ark® 45, and can range near that of Osage and Ouachita. In Arkansas, primocane fruit yields have been very low for all primocane-fruiting genotypes due to very high summer temperatures. In limited evaluations in coastal California trials, substantial promise for primocane crops appears for Prime-Ark® Freedom as it looks comparable to Prime-Ark® 45 in very early trials. Maturity Date - Floricane first harvest date is very early, up to 9-11 days earlier than the early ripening Natchez, and 16-18 days before Ouachita. Primocane's first ripe fruit date has been difficult to fully determine for Prime-Ark® Freedom in Arkansas. Observations indicated that the first ripe fruit was on 18-20 of July on tipped primocanes at FRS although the fruit amount was limited, and ripened earlier than the average date reported for Prime-Ark® 45 of 8 Aug. In California, Prime-Ark® Freedom began to harvest approximately 10-15 Aug. with harvest extending into early October, an earlier ripening date than Prime-Ark® 45 of late August to early September. Disease Resistance - No orange rust was observed and only slight anthracnose was observed. No information is available concerning resistance to double blossom/rosette. Prime-Ark® Freedom is the world’s first primocane-fruiting and thornless commercial blackberry introduction. It is intended primarily as a home garden or local market plant. It has very large fruits with good flavor, and is very early ripening on floricanes, the earliest of all Arkansas blackberry varieties. Fruit of Prime-Ark® Freedom does not exhibit exceptional postharvest storage potential, however, and is not recommended for the shipping market. It is very erect, similar to ‘Ouachita’, and more erect than Natchez. In Arkansas, it has been rated as having good but not excessive vigor while in California was observed to be very vigorous. The very early bloom dates could indicate lower chilling requirements, but this has not been confirmed due to the evaluation site in Arkansas being a high-chill location.

Zones: 6-9

Size: 12 cm pot

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