Black Magic

Black Magic (APF-77) originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Prime-Jim (APF-12) and Arapaho.
This cultivar is from Arkanzas. Plants of the Black Magic have better flavor and overall fruit quality, larger berry size and are more productive with more intense and consistent primocane-fruiting performance than the parent Prime-Jim, and has the primocane-fruiting trait expression not found in parent Arapaho. Parent Arapaho is thornless while the new cultivar has thorns.
Plants of the Black Magic are vigorous and prolific and row establishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes and floricanes are erect in growth habit. Primocane fruit and flowers are borne on the cane terminus, and fruiting continues down the primocane during the season. Canes usually attain a length of approximately 120 cm prior to the appearance of flower buds. The number of nodes down the cane that develop flowers is largely dependent on the length and conditions of the late summer to fall growing period, particularly the field temperatures during this period.
The floricane and primocane bloom periods of these plants begin on the same date and averages the same length as Prime-Jim. Floricane fruit of the new cultivar begins ripening at the same time as APF-12 and can extend 10 days later than APF-12 due to the common emergence of basal fruiting canes providing for the more extended fruiting period. Average first ripening date is beginning of June. The average floricane fruiting period is 40-50 days. Average first primocane fruit ripening date is the middle of July. Fruit yields of the cultivar on primocanes is more than Prime-Jim, usually 3 to 4 kg per plant. The fruit is slightly conical in shape, bright glossy black in color, and very attractive. The floricane fruit weight is about 6-7 g. Floricane fruit size of the new cultivar is maintained well throughout the entire harvest season. Primocane fruit of the Black Magic cultivar averaged 4 g. These fruit can be reduced in high air temperatures (30-32C).
The Black Magic variety exhibits excellent fruit fertility with full drupelet set. Floricane fruit and flower clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne on the periphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flower fertility is high and clusters are well filled. The fruit is moderately firm at maturity, comparable to that of APF-12.
Storage potential of fresh fruit of the Black Magic is not acceptable for shipping due to development of reddening of drupes, fruit softening and leakage during storage. The fresh fruit rates very good in flavor, and higher than APF-12. The flavor is sweet and mildly acidic, with a distinct blackberry aroma.

1. Avoid wet area when planted;
2. Annual pre-emergence and postemergence herbicide applications;
3. Annual spring nitrogen fertilization (56 kg/ha) using ammonium nitrate and additional fertilization with complete fertilizer in early July;
4. Tipping primocanes at 42 inches height two times each season usually in mid-June and late July or early August;
5. Dormant pruning of primocane-fruiting plants must include removing dead floricanes and removing primocane tissue to a point below the fruiting (flowering) area on the primocanes;
6. Dormant pruning of floricane-fruiting plants must include removing dead floricanes and pruning lateral branches to ~0.4 m in length;
7. Use hedgerow training system;
8. Use sun screens and grids. Plants are fertile and abundant unless temperatures at which temperature exceed 30-32 ° C (85-90 ° F) can damage flowers and anthers and pollen production can be reduced;
9. A single application of iron sulfate in late fall and lime sulfur in early spring;
10. The normal practice is cultivating Black Magic in high tunnels. This method allows you to get an earlier harvest.