Metolius
Date: 2020-06-24, updated: 2023-03-29
Thorny trailing blackberry variety with medium-sized, firm, uniform shaped berries from Oregon
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Metolius'
Originated from a cross of Kotata x Douglass
Variety denomination 'Metolius'
Plants are thorny
Bushes have trailing canes
Fruit weight is 5 g
Berries have a conical shape
Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the third week of May
Ripening date (regular) - second week of July
Productivity is 8000 kg from ha
Cold hardiness is moderate
Country of origin United States
Current status - obsolete or rarely used
Metolius is a thorny trailing blackberry variety from Oregon, Unites States. Metolius was selected from a cross between Douglass and Kotata cultivars.
Plants are not large, but vigorous. It is early ripening cultivar with medium-sized, firm, uniform shaped berries and very good yields of excellent quality fresh fruits. The fruit ripening season starts at the end of June, peaks in early July and continues for 14-17 days. Average yield is about 18000 kg/ha, fruit weight is about 5 g. Berries are conical in shape with a drupelet arrangement that produces a very uniformly shaped fruits. Berries are very glossy with excellent black color. The fruit of Metolius blackberry separate easily from the plant.
Flavor and taste is better than Black Diamond and Chester Thornless, but worse, than Marion. Firmness is superior, which is very good for shipping.
Metolius cultivar has moderate resistance to different diseases. Winter hardiness is typical for many other varieties, about minus 13 C.
Plants are not large, but vigorous. It is early ripening cultivar with medium-sized, firm, uniform shaped berries and very good yields of excellent quality fresh fruits. The fruit ripening season starts at the end of June, peaks in early July and continues for 14-17 days. Average yield is about 18000 kg/ha, fruit weight is about 5 g. Berries are conical in shape with a drupelet arrangement that produces a very uniformly shaped fruits. Berries are very glossy with excellent black color. The fruit of Metolius blackberry separate easily from the plant.
Flavor and taste is better than Black Diamond and Chester Thornless, but worse, than Marion. Firmness is superior, which is very good for shipping.
Metolius cultivar has moderate resistance to different diseases. Winter hardiness is typical for many other varieties, about minus 13 C.
| Cultivar | Berry weight, g | Yield, t/ha | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 - 2003 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Metolius | 5.6 | 31.3 | 12.5 | 12.5 |
| Obsidian | 6.8 | 40.8 | 20.1 | 24.0 |
| Silvan | 6.2 | 31.7 | 16.8 | 21.4 |
| Black Diamond | 5.8 | 29.2 | 15.5 | 19.0 |
| Marion | 5.1 | 26.3 | 13.0 | 18.3 |
| Waldo | 5.5 | 25.8 | 11.0 | 17.2 |
| Siskiyou | 6.9 | 20.9 | 9.8 | 9.3 |
| Cultivar | Harvest season | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | Peak | 95% | |
| Metolius | June 25 | July 3 | July 14 |
| Silvan | June 26 | July 8 | July 21 |
| Marion | July 3 | July 10 | July 22 |
| Siskiyou | June 25 | July 8 | July 25 |
| Obsidian | June 25 | July 4 | July 15 |
| Black Diamond | June 28 | July 8 | July 21 |
| Waldo | July 8 | July 22 | Aug. 7 |