Seeking opinion about Prime Ark Freedom blackberry harvesting span

General Fruit Growing
1

Opinion about Prime Ark Freedom harvesting span.

Greetings from Aichi, Japan.

I am just about to plant one Osage, and one Tripple Crown blackberries on my veranda.
They will be put on a small pot each. Right now I am considering getting one Prime Ark Freedom (PAF) or perhaps Prime Ark Travel as well but I am leaning towards the PAF because it read that it has generally better taste.
I have limited space to plant so I am hopping to get some opinion first.

My questions are:

  1. Would PAF yield more fruits in total compared to each Osage or TC because it is a two-seasonal cultivar? as suppose to Osage/TC (because they are only one season cultivar).
  2. What is the harvesting span for the PAF compared to Osage or TC? (Does the PAF fruits when Osage/TC stops?).

The reason is because, I have a five year old daughter who really likes berries and also enjoy picking fresh fruits. So I am wondering if I should just get another Osage/TC or go with the PAF. It depends if the PAF would yield better harvest or bear fruits in a longer period of time.

I have been searching for similar topics here but didn`t have clear answer.
So I am hope that someone with experience growing those varieties can share their opinion.

Just as additional information.
I live in Aichi prefecture, which is between Osaka and Tokyo. I live in a five story condo with little bugs coming to polinate (pesky pests are still coming though haha), the wind is blowing well though.

The climate here is temperate:
December to February: around 3C/37F at night, 10C/50F day time. Dry, no snow.
April: around 10C/50F to 15C/59 night , 20C-25C/68-77FF day. Dry, no snow.
June: rainy season , humid but cool. 20C/68F night, 25C/77F day time.
July-Sept: very hot and very humid. 30C/86F night, 35C-38C/95F-100F day.
Oct: a bit hot day time, but cool at time, mildly humid. 25C/77F night, 28C/82F day.
Nov: cool and dry. 12C/54F night, 17C/63F day.
I am not sure which part of the USA is similar to here, somewhere in Florida perhaps?

By they way I am also planting ever bearing and June bearing strawberries both indoor and in the beranda in post. Still in my second year though.

Thank you for any inputs!
Dee

2

I have several freedom and I think traveler. You would need some type of support to keep it under control. They can get quite tall and large. As for fruit they kind of just keep fruiting for about two months. They say two crops, but there is not much break between the two. The fruit are pretty large, but in my opinion just average taste. Always go with ever-bearing. Much easier to care for and should be more fruit.

Personally I would recommend a dwarf mulberry. They have similar taste, but are much easier to care for and fruit for a longer period. They also do well in pots.

1 Like
3

Thank you for the input!
I will do some search about mulberry as well.
Could you tell me a little bit about the easy care? are you taking about the pruning?

4

With everbearing you can do away with half the fruit and cut everything down at the end of the year. Or just cut out the dead ones and go for the double crop. In a pot I would think it easier to cut the whole thing down at the end of the year. You need a big pot as well.

5

Thank you for the input! I think I’ll just go ahead and get the PAF. To be able to harvest over a longer period of time sounds good.

6

Does anyone grow these in zone 5? Any luck getting much fruit or do they get too damaged from the cold?

7

For me zone 7a Tennessee… berry ripening order…

Strawberry
Goumi
Raspberry
Blueberry
Blackberry

Strawberries start mid April…
Blackberries end early August

Then in Sept thru early Dec fall crop of raspberries

TNHunter

8

I do. Yes i live in the middle of z5 they get damaged even up against my house, last year wasnt as bad but the year before it nearly got killed to the ground. Ive gotten the first crop every year ive had it (like 3 years) in the summer, this year was the first year ive gotten a second crop around october. Best blackberries ive ever had by far but ive only had grocery store stuff and triple crown which was underwhelming