Blackberry varieties /

Kelly blackberry variety

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One of the newest early-ripening thornless erect-growing blackberry cultivars from the University of Arkansas

Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Kelly'

Originated from a cross of A-2252T x A-2255

Variety denomination - 'A-2454T'

Plants are thornless

Bushes have erect canes

Fruit weight is 5 g

Berries have a rounded shape

Fruiting habit - floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)

Flowering on floricanes starts in the first week of May

Ripening date (regular) - second week of June

Productivity is 4.2 kg per plant

Soluble solids - 11.1%

Acidity - 0.6%

Cold hardiness is low

Heat tolerance is high

Patent US PP32,965 P2 dated April 12, 2021

Current status - modern or widely used

Country of origin - United States

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Kelly is vigorous and prolific blackberry variety, one of the newest varieties from the Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program (patented in 2021).
Canes and floricanes are erect in growth habit. Plants are thornless.
Kelly is early-ripening variety (first half of June in warm areas), the average floricane fruiting period is about 60 days.
Fruit yields of the new cultivar on floricanes are on average 4 kg. The fruit is round in shape and glossy with a uniform black finish. Berries of Kelly cultivar are medium (~ 6g) in weight. Kelly exhibits excellent fruit fertility with full drupelet set. Fruit firmness is a noteworthy characteristic and is near crisp in texture, and is consistent whether in rainy or dry periods of fruit maturity. The flavor is sweet and sub-acid. The overall postharvest storage potential of fresh fruit of the Kelly blackberry cultivar is greater than that of Osage and Natchez. Fruit and flower clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne on the periphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest.
Plants and fruit have shown slight susceptibility to anthracnose, have shown no evidence of susceptibility to orange rust. Also Kelly have shown susceptibility to cane and leaf rust.
Kelly is hardy to minus 8C. Temperatures lower than this have resulted in crop reduction.