Choctaw
Date: 2021-08-13, updated: 2023-03-29
Old very vigorous erect cultivar with early-ripening fruit for south regions
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Choctaw'
Originated from a cross of Rosborough x Ark. 526
Variety denomination 'Choctaw', tested as Ark. 876
Plants are slightly thorny
Bushes have erect canes
Fruit weight is 5 g
Berries have a rounded shape
Soluble solids - 9.7%
Acidity - 1.12%
Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the second week of April
Ripening date (regular) - first week of June
Productivity is 6 kg per plant
Cold hardiness is low
Country of origin United States
Patent Plant 6,678 dated March 19, 1989
Current status - obsolete or rarely used
Recommended replacement - Osage
Plants of Choctaw are highly vigorous and prolific and row establishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes and floricanes are very erect and the fruit is easily accessible to both machine and hand harvest. Thorn size and density of thorns are medium. Fruit clusters are medium-large, and are borne on the periphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flower fertility is high and clusters are well filled.
Fruit of this blackberry ripens very early, average ripening date is last week of May in south regions. The harvest period is shorter than most other erect varieties - about 20 days. Yield is high. The fruit is short conic in shape, bright black in color and medium large in size (averaged 5 g). The fruit is moderately firm when full ripe. The fresh fruit have very good flavor and aroma with a slight sourness, seed size is very small.
Choctaw is moderately tolerant to anthracnose, immune to orange rust, but is occasionally attacked by powdery mildew. Plant is not cold hardy, this variety is destined for warm south regions.