CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 12/23/98

New Blackberry Variety Yields 'Monster' Berries

The new 'Kiowa' blackberry may be just the fruit for people who love blackberries but hate having to pick so many to make a cobbler, said a University of Georgia expert.

"This berry is a real size breakthrough," said Gerard Krewer, a horticulturist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "Kiowa berries weigh about 10 grams each and are bigger than a quarter. Most other varieties are 5 to 6 grams each — about dime-sized."

Kiowa's release from the University of Arkansas is just in time for Georgia bramble-planting season. Krewer said December to March is the best time to put in new bramble plants, including blackberry and raspberry.

Kiowa is one of several new varieties of "erect" blackberries. Growers prune these types into a hedge row without using a trellis.

"We recommend growers prune these types several times during the summer," Krewer said. These prunings result in a thick hedge of blackberries with the fruit on the outside of the bush and away from the thorns.

Developed blackberry plants are less ferocious than the wild types found in woods or fields. Krewer said blackberries are, essentially, weeds.

"And you have to manage them as such," he said. "You have to keep them pruned and the row middles mowed, or they can take over your yard or garden quickly."

Kiowa has several characteristics that make it a great blackberry for Georgia. UA scientist James N. Moore developed it at the Hope, Ark., experiment station, which is at about the same latitude as Griffin, Ga.

"It appears to be an excellent blackberry for both home gardens and pick-your-own fruit operations in Georgia," Krewer said.

But don't look for these monster berries the first year after planting. Blackberries take two years to fruit and three years to produce a full crop.

"Blackberry canes have a two-year growth and fruiting cycle," Krewer said. "Like so many fruits, they produce berries on last year's plant growth. "

From root cuttings or plants set during the winter, the plants grow canes. These canes grow one year, then fruit and die the next year. While that year's canes are fruiting, new canes emerge for the next year's crop.

Though it's still fairly early in the testing phase, Krewer is excited about the prospects for this new blackberry in Georgia.

You can learn more about growing and managing Kiowa and other bramble fruits on the World Wide Web at <pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C766.htm.

Gerard Krewer is a Cooperative Extension horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Gerard W. Krewer
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.