Nantahala Raspberry
This is the first red raspberry to be released from this breeding program in over 50 years. The primary characteristics that distinguish Nantahala from other red raspberry cultivars are its late harvest season and large berry size. In the Cherokee language, ‘Nantahala’ means land of the midday sun.
Fruit ripens later than most primocane fruiting cultivars based on data collected at the research stations in North Carolina. Harvest typically begins the first week of September in Laurel Springs, NC, and in the third week of August in Mills River, NC, and continues 3 to 4 weeks or until a hard frost occurs. As such, it is recommended for the mountain regions of North Carolina and adjacent states.
Performs best where the growing season is long and summer temperatures are mild with uniformly cool temperatures in winter long enough to satisfy the chilling requirements.
Zones 6 – 9.
Disease Resistance
Under a minimal spray program of dormant fungicides, Nantahala showed no significant infection from fungal diseases such as late leaf rust or leaf spot, which were present in test plots. Virus infection and susceptibility are unknown.
