Raspberry Harvesting Program
Season Extension by Variety Selection
Choosing the right mix of varieties can lengthen your raspberry harvest. Use these charts to compare varieties by their main traits and by when they fruit: Ripening dates in your area will differ with latitude, microclimate, growing methods and each year's weather, among other things.
Chart: Raspberry Harvest Window |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit color: | Black | Gold/yellow | Purple | Red | ||||||||||||||||||
| Variety | June | July | August | September | October | |||||||||||||||||
| Summer-bearing (floricane) varieties | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Boyne' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Prelude'† | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Bristol' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Jewel' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Tahi' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Killarney' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Latham' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Royalty Purple' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Nova' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Encore'† | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Mac Black' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Everbearing or fall-bearing (primocane) varieties | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Niwot'* ♥ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Imara' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Polka' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Heritage' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Himbo Top' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Polana'† ♦ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Joan J' ♥ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Caroline' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Anne' ♥ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Double Gold' ♥ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
♦ Part of the Berry Lover's Plant Collection
♥ Part of the Rainbow Raspberry Plant Collection
* Niwot is a floricane type, but its harvest window resembles the primocane varieties.
Raspberry Variety Comparison Chart |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variety* | Fruiting Season | Fruit Size | First Color | Growing Zones | Thornless | Notes | |
| Summer-bearing (floricane) varieties | |||||||
| 'Boyne' | Early | Medium | Red | 3–8 | Very cold hardy; great for jam. | ||
| 'Prelude' † | Very early | Medium-large | Red | 4–8 | Most fruit comes in mid-June, with a smaller crop in fall. | ||
| 'Bristol' | Early | Medium | Black | 5–8 | Vigorous, with powdery mildew resistance. | ||
| 'Jewel' | Midseason | Large | Glossy black | 5–8 | Ripens evenly for a concentrated harvest. | ||
| 'Tahi' | Midseason | Large | Deep black | 5–8 | ✔ | Black raspberry without thorns. | |
| 'Killarney' | Midseason | Medium | Red | 3–7 | Excellent for baking. | ||
| 'Latham' | Midseason | Medium-large | Red | 3–8 | Combines winter hardiness with outstanding fruit. | ||
| 'Royalty Purple' | Midseason | Large | Purple | 4–8 | A favorite for jam and jelly. | ||
| 'Nova' | Midseason | Medium-large | Red | 3–8 | Steady yields, few thorns and better winter hardiness. | ||
| 'Encore'† | Late midseason | Large | Red | 4–7 | ✔ (minimal thorns) | Bears in mid to late summer, bridging the late-July to early-August gap between standard early and late varieties. | |
| 'Mac Black' | Late midseason | Medium | Black | 5–8 | Has shown some resistance to anthracnose. | ||
| Everbearing or fall-bearing (primocane) varieties | |||||||
| 'Imara' | Midseason | Medium | Red | 5–8 | Dependable and productive. | ||
| 'Niwot'* ♥ | Midseason | Large | Black | 5–8 | Niwot can give a strong summer (floricane) crop and then a fall crop (see the fall harvest window above). | ||
| 'Polka' | Midseason | Large | Red | 5–8 | Easy to grow. | ||
| 'Heritage' | Two harvests: midseason and late. | Large | Red | 3–8 | Heirloom with strong canes that often stand without support. | ||
| 'Himbo Top' | Two harvests: midseason and late. | Red | 4–8 | ✔ (minimal thorns) | Vigorous and disease resistant. | ||
| 'Polana'† ♦ | Bears late summer into early fall | Medium-large | Glossy red | 3–8 | A standard everbearer that bridges the gap between summer- and fall-bearing types. | ||
| 'Joan J' ♥ | Bears late summer into early fall | Large | Glossy red | 4–8 | ✔ | Thornless and productive. | |
| 'Caroline' | Mid fall-bearing | Medium-large | Red | 4–7 | ✔ | Rich, intense flavor. Ripens after Polana and before Anne. | |
| 'Anne' ♥ | Mid fall-bearing | Large | Pale yellow | 4–7 | Known for outstanding, very sweet flavor. | ||
| 'Double Gold' ♥ | Can be managed for a summer (floricane) crop, a fall (primocane) crop, or both | Large | Deep blush to golden champagne | 5–7 | Bears a little fruit the first fall after planting, then in summer or fall in later years depending on how it is pruned. | ||
† Part of our Red Raspberry Plant Collection
♦ Part of the Berry Lover's Plant Collection
♥ Part of the Rainbow Raspberry Plant Collection
* Niwot is a floricane type, but its harvest window resembles the primocane varieties.
