Primocanefruiting

Primocanefruiting is a horticultural term used for certain Rubus species, most notably some raspberries and blackberries, to describe fruit production on primocanes—the first-year, non-flowering canes—instead of or in addition to fruiting on floricanes, the canes that have already fruited in the previous year. In traditional, season-long fruiting varieties, most fruit is produced on floricanes in their second year. Primocane-fruiting cultivars may bear fruit on the tips of primocanes in late summer or fall and, depending on the cultivar and climate, may also produce a second crop on floricanes the following year. This remontant or everbearing behavior can extend the harvest window and offers flexible pruning strategies.

The expression of primocanefruiting is highly cultivar- and environment-dependent. Some varieties reliably produce a fall crop on primocanes, while in other cases primocane fruiting is inconsistent or limited. Management commonly involves pruning and training decisions that balance fruit production on primocanes with vigorous growth of new canes for future yields. After harvest, spent canes are typically removed or cut back to encourage new primocanes; in some systems, selective retention of non-fruiting canes may be used to support continued production. Adequate sun exposure, soil fertility, and moisture are important to support the growth of primocanes and the quality of the fruit.