Rosborough and Womack Blackberries Can Be Grown in the Mojave Desert

Q. I am growing Bababerries. What small berries do you recommend for our Mojave Desert climate?

'Rosborough' and 'Womack' blackberries grown at the University Orchard in North Las Vegas.

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A. Growing berries is tough in our desert climate due to summer heat primarily. Bababerry (a heat tolerant raspberry) is a good choice to try due to its heat tolerance. I have not grown it but others claim it works. 

I have had luck growing two blackberry varieties for several years: ‘Rosborough’ and ‘Womack’. I was led to this decision by a publication out of Tucson, Az, regarding some research done in Yuma. I also tried 'Brison' but did not have the luck growing it as I did the other two. Both are “thorny” and grow erect so they don’t need much trellising. Both varieties were released from Texas A and M University in 1977 with very similar traits.

Other varieties (particularly varieties released from the University of Arkansas with native American names) have not been very successful here. All that information is anecdotal as I have not tried them. 

In our climate these berries mature during the heat in May and, like figs, must be picked the same day they are ripe. So mark your calendar for picking when growing these berries. They do not keep well after they are harvested.

You can buy starts of either of these or both by mail order here.