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raspberry beetle resistant cultivars for raspberry/blackberry please?

pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
in Plants
Hi folks,

Hope the soft fruit growing experts can help here.

I want to purchase a blackberry and a raspberry of low to moderate vigour (about a 6ft fence panel's room for each) but want to avoid the unpleasant raspberry beetle as much as possible.

I gather autumn fruiting raspberries are a good bet like Autumn Bliss but I gather even those are not completely immune (the early fruits being affected)?

As for the blackberry, I guess something as late as possible would be good here, but I could really use some recommendations please.

I grew Glen More and it was riddled with the pest, but of course that was a summer fruiting type.  It ended up in the bin.

I really don't want to spray anything.

Thanks all.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    For the blackberry I can strongly recommend Waldo. The berries are large and the flavour is outstanding. It's also thornless and one of the smallest varieties.
    I have one on a west facing fence and harvested 5.5Kg this year.
    It's not a late variety though. Mine were all harvested by end of July.
    Completely pest and disease free - 




    I can't recommend any raspberries that are resistant.
    I also had Glen Moy (an early variety), but that succumbed to a dwarfing virus.
    In another area I have Joan J - that also appears to have dwarfing virus, but as an autumn variety, it's not too destructive as the canes are cut to the ground after fruiting.
    I cleared the Glen Moy and left the area bare for a year and I'm going to plant Malling Jewel this winter and keep my fingers crossed, but I suspect in vain.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    That looks amazing.

    Unfortunately an early variety isn't an option as we are often away in July, and in any case knowing our luck with pests and diseases here, it's too much of a risk re: the beetle.

    A late variety but compact, thornless and disease resistant - especially beetle resistant - would be best for us.

    As for the raspberry, again as a late as possible would be best.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Don't know about the best raspberry, but the other blackberry to consider is Loch Ness - also thornless, small and well behaved.
    I think it starts fruiting mid-August

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • KayJKayJ Posts: 82
    We grew both Polka and Autumn Treasure, both autumn fruiting. Polka fruits a bit earlier (starts in mid-July) and the first few did have some raspberry beetle, but the fruit is delicious and the canes virtually spine-free. Autumn Treasure has a more traditional fruiting window (August to October), spine-free, missed the beetle window and taste is superb.
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Thanks for that. I've not heard of autumn treasure so will check out.

    Is it better/later than Autumn Bliss, which I wonder is beetle free also?
  • KayJKayJ Posts: 82
    I get the impression it's an improvement on Autumn Bliss. Lovely big juicy berries! Also apparently resistent to powdery mildew, verticillium wilt and raspberry root rot. Highly recommended! :)
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Yes, apparently so.  And slightly later harvesting (possibly one of the latest of all cultivars?).  I'm sold.
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