Prime-Ark Freedom

Blackberry

Size

Very large - averaged 9g in Arkansas trials (larger than Natchez), up to 16g for primocane fruit in California trials

Shape

Large, plump/rounded-elongated cluster

Flavor

Very sweet with good flavor (10.4% soluble solids) - rated equal to Prime-Ark 45, higher than Natchez

Texture

Relatively soft; does not have exceptional postharvest storage potential

Ripening window

Primocane-fruiting double-cropper - the earliest-ripening of all Arkansas blackberry varieties on floricanes (9-11 days ahead of Natchez); primocane crop starts mid-late July in Arkansas, extending to frost

Best uses

Home garden and farmers-market/U-pick fresh eating - explicitly not recommended for shipping due to limited postharvest storage

Pollination

Self-fertile - no pollinator needed

Tree size

~4-5 ft tall x 3-4 ft wide, very erect habit; recommended spacing 3-4 ft

Notes

Thornless (the world's first commercially released thornless, primocane-fruiting blackberry), bred by Dr. John R. Clark's University of Arkansas program, released 2013 (PP26,990). No orange rust observed in UA trials, only slight anthracnose; double blossom/rosette resistance is explicitly not documented by UA. Chill-hour requirement is explicitly unconfirmed by UA's own release notes - its very early bloom "could indicate" lower chill needs but wasn't tested for it; retail figures (500 hrs, or as low as 100-200 hrs) aren't sourced back to UA data, treat with caution. USDA zone listings vary by retailer (4-9 vs 5-9). Double blossom/rosette is called out by Texas A&M AgriLife as the most serious fungal disease for blackberries in east/southeast Texas, and orange rust as a particular concern for thornless varieties as a class - worth monitoring even though this variety showed no orange rust in trials.