What Is Reuben Blackberry? Taste, Harvest Season, and Growing Guide

Reuben's Origin and Basic Characteristics

Reuben is a blackberry cultivar (Rubus fruticosus group) developed by the University of Arkansas's breeding program and patented in the US (PP23497). I bought this plant in person, and at first the name confused me - hearing "Reuben" I assumed it was a raspberry cultivar, but research showed it's actually a blackberry cultivar.

Reuben's most important trait is being primocane-fruiting (fruiting on first-year growth). Unlike most blackberry cultivars - which only fruit on second-year, woody canes (floricanes) - Reuben sets fruit on its fresh cane the same year it emerges. It has an erect, relatively compact growth form; it's a notably thorny plant (denser thorns near the base, thinning toward the tip), and it's self-fertile, meaning it doesn't need a separate pollinator.

My Observations in Sakarya

I bought this plant in person without a nursery tag or receipt - so I have no document directly confirming the cultivar name. But both the growth habit (sending up a new cane each year and fruiting on it) and the fruit's color progression as it ripens match what I found researching Reuben. The taste is good, but it hasn't reached full yield yet - as you can see in the photo, there are currently a few fruits, most not fully ripe.

I noticed the thorns aren't clearly visible in the photo; according to Reuben's description it should have denser thorns at the base and sparser ones toward the tip - maybe it's not visible from this angle, or maybe this young shoot hasn't fully developed yet. I can't say for certain on this point, I'll get a clearer picture over time.

Fruit Taste, Color, and Ripening Period

Reuben has a harvest window stretching from August to November, lasting 10-12 weeks - a late-ripening cultivar. The fruit is quite large (averaging 14-15 grams), oblong/blocky in shape, with a glossy surface. The color changes in stages as it ripens: starting from a lighter/pinkish tone, moving to deep red, then turning glossy black at full ripeness. Most of the red photos you find researching this online are likely showing that transitional stage - like many blackberry cultivars, Reuben's unripe fruit is red before turning black.

I can say one thing clearly about the taste: it's good, sweet. But since I haven't reached full yield yet, it's early for a general assessment - I'll see how the harvest develops as the plant matures.

Watering, Soil, and Cold Hardiness

Reuben tolerates most soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soil; it performs best in neutral to slightly acidic pH. It prefers moist but well-drained soil, and mulching with compost helps. Full sun with a south- or west-facing aspect is recommended - being a late-flowering cultivar, it needs a warm, sunny late summer for the fruit to ripen well.

Its cold hardiness is quite solid: it can tolerate down to -20 to -15C, meaning it grows without issue even in Northern European winters. That's comfortably within range for Sakarya's winters. Mature plants can reach 1.5-2.5 meters tall and spread 1-1.5 meters - the "compact" label comes from its more erect, tidy growth compared to some other blackberry cultivars, not from being a tiny plant.

Real Harvest Photos

I'll be adding my own Reuben photos from the garden to this post - real shots of the ripening stages and the harvest once it reaches full yield are coming soon.

Related Posts

If you're interested in thornless/compact fruiting shrubs, check out my other posts on fruiting plants in my garden - I've shared similar observations especially about cultivars that fruit on new growth.