Nightfall
Date: 2020-08-16, updated: 2023-03-29
Commercial trailing blackberry cultivar which, adapted to machine harvesting, has yield and processed fruit quality very similar to world-known blackberry cultivar Marion
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Nightfall'
Originated from a cross of Marion x Waldo
Variety denomination 'Nightfall', tested as ORUS 1486-2
Plants are thornless
Bushes have trailing canes
Fruit weight is 6 g
Berries have a conical shape
Soluble solids - 12.75%
Acidity - 3.0%
Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the first week of June
Ripening date (regular) - third week of July
Productivity is 24000 kg from ha
Cold hardiness is moderate
Country of origin United States
Current status - obsolete or rarely used
Recommended replacement - Columbia Sunrise
Nightfall is adapted to machine harvesting and has yield and processed fruit quality very similar to world-known blackberry cultivar Marion. It is one of three thornless varieties which are being released simultaneously - Black Diamond, Nightfall and Black Pearl. These cultivars was intended to replace Marion variety, which hasn't good post-harvest characteristics.
Nightfall is thornless blackberry variety, but primocanes have some thorns on the basal. These thorns are soft and smooth. Also child canes from root are thorny. Nightfall harvest begins at the few days of July, peaks in early July and is largerly done by the third week of July in south regions. Fruits of Nightfall are similar in shape to Marion berries, they are a medium long conic and can have a blunt tip. Flavor is excellent. Fruit firmness is sufficient for machine harvesting and transportation. Yield is little more than Marion, average berry weight is 6 g.
Winter hardiness is about minus 13 C. Nightfall blackberry has sufficient resistance to different diseases.
| Cultivar | Fruit weight, g | Yield, kg/ha | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2003 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Nightfall | 6.2 | 42447 | 13405 | 20962 |
| Black Pearl | 6.2 | 26969 | 14373 | 15505 |
| Silvan | 6.2 | 31757 | 16811 | 21845 |
| Black Diamond | 5.8 | 29281 | 15568 | 19001 |
| Marion | 5.1 | 26380 | 13021 | 18397 |
| Waldo | 5.5 | 25849 | 11000 | 17286 |
| Siskiyou | 6.9 | 20969 | 9854 | 9359 |
| Cultivar | Harvest season | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | Peak | 95% | |
| Nightfall | July 3 | July 11 | July 23 |
| Black Diamond | June 28 | July 8 | July 21 |
| 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 Pearl | July 3 | July 10 | July 24 |
| Metolius | June 25 | July 3 | July 14 |
| Waldo | July 8 | July 22 | August 7 |