Ouachita
Date: 2020-08-17, updated: 2023-03-29
High fruit quality, consistent high yields, good fruit size and excellent postharvest fruit-handling potential
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Ouachita'
Originated from a cross of Navaho x A-1506
Variety denomination 'Ouachita', tested as A-1905
Plants are thornless
Bushes have erect canes
Fruit weight is 6 g
Berries have a rounded shape
Soluble solids - 9.9%
Acidity - 0.97%
Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the first week of May
Ripening date (regular) - third week of June
Productivity is 3 kg per plant
Cold hardiness is moderate
Country of origin United States
Patent US PP17,162 P3 dated October 21, 2006
Current status - modern or widely used
Blackberry variety Ouachita produces yield comparable to or higher than Apache or Navaho cultivars. Average berry weight is about 6 g. Average yield is about 3 kg from each healthy plant. Fruit of Ouachita are blocky and conical and very attractive with an exceptional glossy, black finish. Fruit firmness is slightly less than that of Navaho. Flavor is very good. Ouachita begin bloom the same date or nearly as Navaho and Apache blackberry - at the end of April of beginning of May. First harvest date is the middle of June. Harvest season continues up to the end of July. Canes of blackberry variety Ouachita are fully thornless and very erect. Vigor rating is higher than Navaho blackberry.
Health rating of Ouachita variety is excellent, this variety has good resistance to winter frost, pests and diseases. Fresh is main use but can be processed for jellies, jams, juice, wine.
Cultivar | Yield, kg/ha | Fruit weight, g | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 2002 | 2001 | 2002 | |
Clarksville | ||||
Ouachita | 6811 | 6659 | 6.4 | 4.7 |
Apache | 7908 | 12045 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
Arapaho | 3527 | 3171 | 5.3 | 4.2 |
Hope | ||||
Ouachita | 11184 | 10931 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
Apache | 5336 | 6178 | 8.9 | 7.0 |
Arapaho | 7365 | 9516 | 4.6 | 4.0 |
Cultivar | Yield, kg/ha | Fruit weight, g | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 2002 | 2001 | 2002 | |
Clarksville | ||||
Ouachita | 10086 | 9568 | 6.7 | 5.8 |
Apache | 7683 | 9560 | 9.5 | 7.7 |
Arapaho | 4974 | 4981 | 5.2 | 5.0 |
Navaho | 4764 | 10060 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
Hope | ||||
Ouachita | 16994 | 9866 | 6.0 | 5.1 |
Apache | 14533 | 5588 | 8.4 | 6.7 |
Arapaho | 9703 | 5134 | 5.0 | 4.2 |
Navaho | 11115 | 3071 | 4.9 | 3.6 |
Fayetteville | ||||
Ouachita | 8588 | - | 4.5 | - |
Apache | 8349 | - | 7.4 | - |
Arapaho | 4996 | - | 3.5 | - |
Navaho | 4785 | - | 3.1 |
Main features | Variety | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Apache | Arapaho | Ouachita | Navaho | |
Flowering date (1997 - 1998 years) | ||||
10% bloom | April 29 | April 28 | April 29 | May 1 |
50% bloom | May 5 | May 4 | May 7 | May 7 |
Flowering date (2000 - 2002 years) | ||||
10% bloom | April 26 | April 25 | April 26 | - |
50% bloom | April 30 | May 2 | May 2 | - |
Harvest date (1997 - 1998 years) | ||||
First | June 21 | June 6 | June 12 | June 19 |
Peak | June 30 | June 11 | June 19 | July 1 |
Last | july 26 | July 7 | July 20 | July 27 |
Harvest date (2000 - 2002 years) | ||||
First | June 19 | June 5 | June 13 | - |
Peak | June 29 | June 16 | June 24 | - |
Last | July 25 | July 2 | July 16 | - |
Fruit (rating scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the best) | ||||
Firmness | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 |
Flavor | 8.3 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.5 |
Fresh seed, mg | 12.5 | 8.4 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
Dry seed, mg | 4.8 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
Soluble solids, % | 11.1 | 8.2 | 9.9 | 11.9 |
Plant (rating scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the best) | ||||
Vigor | 9.1 | 7.3 | 8.4 | 7.4 |
Health | 9.4 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 8.9 |
How to cultivate blackberry Ouachita?
1. Include annual preemergence and postemergence herbicide applications;
2. Include annual spring nitrogen fertilization (about 56 kg/ha) using ammonium nitrate NH4NO3;
3. Summer tipping of primocanes at 1.1 m;
4. Sprinkler irrigation apply as needed;
5. Use dormant pruning;
6. A single application of liquid lime sulfur (94 L/ha) each spring at budbreak for control of anthracnose;
7. A single application of liquid ferrous sulphate each fall after the plants have gone into chill period;
8. Plant spacing at least 0.6 m.
Useful Growing Guides:
Reviews of the variety Ouachita
Blackberries are very popular among home gardeners, homesteaders and preppers and they are one of our TOP SELLERS at Presidential Gardens Backyard Nursery in Conway Arkansas.
We raise several varieties here on our old historic homeplace and strive to keep them in stock. This video covers information about the QUACHITA BLACKBERRY PLANT variety.
Included is a description, expected yield, taste, tree size, USDA Hardiness Grow Zones, soil and sun light, growth rate, harvest time, expected years to bear fruit and pollination.
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