The cultivated blackberries are hybrid plants of the genus Rubus, subgenus Eubatus. They are only distantly related to the weed species, Rubus fructicosus Agg. The following varieties are found in commerce. Descriptive notes are based on performance in Southeast Australia. Fruiting season is dependent on climate and may vary by three weeks from early to...

This Agriculture note lists the common pests and diseases of Rubus crops in Australia. It is not a comprehensive list of all rubus diseases found worldwide, nor a full description of the life cycle of disease organisms. Life cycles of all major and minor rubus diseases can be found in Compendium of Raspberry and Blackberry...

The raspberry plant produces new canes, which emerge from the ground in early spring. These new canes, referred to as primocanes, grow throughout spring and early summer and become dormant in winter. The varieties Willamette, Nootka and Chilcotin normally produce an autumn crop on the tips of the primocanes before becoming dormant. Dormant canes are...

The raspberry plant possesses the potential to produce fruit on primocane tips in autumn, in addition to the main crop which is borne on floricanes in spring. This habit is usually described as primocane-fruiting (PF). PF cultivars are grown as a perennial crop with annual canes - that is, canes emerge in spring, grow through...

Raspberries require well drained, deep soil. They do not tolerate heavy clay soils, or shallow soils, or prolonged water stress. They can tolerate heat in summer, but hot wind will devastate new growth and economic viability. The floricane fruiting (spring and summer) raspberries require adequate winter chill to fully and evenly break dormancy in spring...