Volume 30 Number 3 Article 9 Pages: 94-94
Year 1976 Month 7
Title: 'Pathfinder' and 'Trailblazer' Everbearing Raspberries Released
Author: G.S. Howard
Citation
Abstract:
Two new raspberry varieties 'Pathfinder' and 'Trailblazer' have been recently released by the US Depertment of Agriculture.
These raspberies fruit early on new wood of the current season's growth.
They are recommended for trial in home gardens of the High Plains and the north-central states.
They are being released in 1976 to nurseerymen and propagators, who will produce plants for public sale.
These raspberries fill a need long felt by gardeners in the High Plains.
Standard raspberries fruit on the previous season's canes, but because all raspberry canes freeze to or near the ground in these areas, little or no fruit is produced.
Canes van be prevented from freezing by completely covering them with soil over winter, but the labor requirement is hugh.
Raspberry varieties that fruit on the current season's canes are commercially available, but they bear so late in the High PLains region that little or no ripe fruit is produced before freezing occurs. 'Pathfinder' and 'Trailblazer' begin to fruit the first week of August in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
They are everbearing, and the fruiting season lasts for about 6 weeks, or until heavy frosts occur.
'Pathfinder' and 'Trailblazer' were developed at the High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, Wyoming. 24 years of plant breeding and field evaluation of numerous seedlings of four generations resulted in the new varieties.
THeir parentage consisted pf two third-generation seedlings developed from wild northern Wyoming plants that were crossed with the variety 'Augustred'.
The two varieties have similar yield and fruit type, except 'Trailblazer' has slightly larger fruit, with maximum siwe nearly one inch in diameter.
Fruit color is medium to deep red and the flesh is medium in firmness.
Flavor is characteristically raspberry but somewhat less flavorfull than standard raspberries.
PLants are vigorous and will make solid beds unless cultivated.
The canes that are frozen back to or near ground level over winter may be mowed and raked off before new growth starts, thus eliminating hand pruning and reservoirs for disease.
Foliar diseases were not reported from cooperators in the recommended areas of adaptability.
APS membership administration
ISHS membership administration
