Minnesota Report 210-1987

Redwing Raspberry

Redwing is a primocane-fruiting ("fall-fruiting") red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) cultivar developed by the University of Minnesota's fruit breeding program. Its fruit typically begins to ripen 10 to 14 days earlier than that of Heritage, the most widely grown, commercial, primocane-fruiting cultivar. Redwing is intended to supplement or replace Heritage in situations where earlier primocane fruiting is desired. A cross of Heritage x Fall Red made in 1969 created Redwing. It was selected in 1972 and has been tested as MN 629 since 1974 at Excelsior, Morris, Grand Rapids, and Staples, Minnesota, and at several cooperating experiment stations in other states.

Redwing has been compared with other primocane-fruiting cultivars in replicated trials planted at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center, Excelsior, Minnesota, in 1979 and 1984 (tables 1 and 2) and at other locations. These trials used a cultural system in which the plots are mowed in the spring and only the primocane crop is harvested. Yield has been similar to or less than that of Heritage in southern Minnesota due to less development of fruiting lateral branches. In northern Minnesota, due to its early fruiting, Redwing had outyielded Heritage. First harvest and peak harvest dates for Redwing were usually 10 to 20 days earlier than for Heritage, but several days later than for Fall Red.

Fruit size and color are similar to Heritage. Firmness and skin strength of Redwing fruit are rated lower than Heritage but higher than Fall Red. Quality of frozen packs has usually been rated lower than Heritage because of less firmness. Flavor has been rated similar to or slightly poorer than Heritage.

Stout, green primocanes with moderately dense, short purple spines are characteristic of Redwing. Suckering is moderate and primocanes grow vigorously, reaching 6 to 7 feet high. A simple, one-wire trellis support has been useful in keeping these vigorous, productive canes upright. Primocanes will typically begin to bloom when they have 30 to 42 nodes, and they will fruit on the top 11 to 15 nodes. The fruit is somewhat obscured by the leaves, which are held horizontally or slightly drooping from the cane. Leaves are dark-green and have five leaflets. A small crop is produced on floricanes during the second year from nodes which did not produce fruit the first year. Trials at Grand Rapids, in northern Minnesota, indicated that Redwing suffered less winter injury than Heritage.

Redwing is susceptible to anthracnose (Elsinoe veneta) but the disease has not been a problem when planting is managed in an annual mowing system. Rows should be narrow (12 to 18 inches wide) and fungicide protection should be maintained if a floricane crop is to be harvested. Spur blight (Didmella applanata) has been observed but has not been a serious problem. Redwing has performed well on heavy soils but its response to Phytophthora spp, has not been determined.

Field counts of Amphorophora agathonica Hottes., the aphid vector of red raspberry mosaic virus, indicated that the aphid's preference for Redwing is similar to its preference for Heritage but less than for the known susceptible cultivars Fall Red and September.

Redwing is propagated from virus-indexed stock by cooperating nurseries under a royalty agreement with the Minnesota Nurserymen's Research Cooperation and is available beginning in 1987.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

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