Prime-Jim
Date: 2020-11-21, updated: 2023-03-09
Second commercial cultivar of primocane-fruiting blackberry
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Prime-Jim'
Originated from a cross of Arapaho x Ark. 830
Variety denomination 'APF-12'
Plants are thorny
Bushes have erect canes
Fruit weight is 5 g
Berries have a oblong shape
Soluble solids - 7.9%
Acidity - 0.81%
Fruiting habit primocane-fruiting (everbearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the fourth week of April
Ripening date (regular) - first week of June
Blooming on primocanes starts in the third week of June
Ripening date (remontant) - third week of July
Productivity is 14000 kg from ha
Cold hardiness is moderate
Country of origin United States
Patent US PP16,989 P3 dated August 13, 2006
Current status - obsolete or rarely used
Recommended replacement - APF-153T
Canes of Prime-Jim are thorny and erect, vigorous. If primocanes are tipped at 1 to 1.3 m to control length and encourage lateral branching, Prime-Jim can be grown in a hedgerow without trellis support. However, support of canes during fruiting is recommended.
Average yield on floricanes is about 13 t/ha, on primocanes - about 3 t/ha.
Average berry weight on floricanes and primocanes is about 5 g. Berries of Prime-Jim are blocky, conical, black with glossy finish. Fruit shape varies on primocanes and quality factors including glossiness and color are affected by heat. Also observed doubled fruits.
Floricane bloom date is the end of April or beginning of May, primocane bloom date is the middle of June. Floricane harvest date is the second week of June, primocane first ripe fruit date is the third week of July. Flowering continues until first frosts.
High air temperature can cause profound reductions in flowering.
This variety requires winter shelter, winter hardiness is about minus 13 C.