When and what kind of Grapes and Berries to plant in Willamette Valley - Ask Extension
We are wanting to plant new grapes and berries.
For grapes, we are wanting the name of ones like concord grapes to make juice.
For berries, we...
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When and what kind of Grapes and Berries to plant in Willamette Valley #925916
Asked March 12, 2026, 2:48 PM EDT
We are wanting to plant new grapes and berries.
For grapes, we are wanting the name of ones like concord grapes to make juice.
For berries, we would like the name of berries with the flavor of Marion berries, but without the long trailing vines.
Also do you have the name of logan berries that would do well in the Willamette Valley. Any other kinds of berries that would be good for cobblers and pies.
Could you also give us the name of a good red raspberry for jam. And the name of a yellow raspberry for eating off the vine.
Thank you!!
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for contacting ask extension with your questions about growing grapes and berries. Wow! It sounds like you are preparing for a large gardening project!
I'm including several links to a wonderful OSU series about berries. I'll be referring to these throughout this answer.
Ref a: Grapes https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1639-growing-table-grapes
Ref b: Blackberries:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1303-growing-blackberries-your-home-garden
Ref c: Raspberries: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1306-growing-raspberries-your-home-garden
Ref d: Blueberries
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1304-growing-blueberries-your-home-garden
Ref e: Strawberries:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1307-growing-strawberries-your-home-garden
Ref f: Wild berries & fruits
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/sp-50-536-preserving-fruits-wild-berries-fruits
Grapes for juice “like Concord”
Concord is an American grape (Vitis labrusca) type known for the classic strong “foxy” juice-grape flavor and aroma; these American types are commonly used for juice, jellies, pies, and fresh eating. Unfortunately, Concord may not ripen in western Oregon if not pruned well.
Ref a ("Growing Table Grapes"), has an Appendix A at the end of the document. Appendix A is list of grape cultivars and their characteristics. I recommend you check out Valiant, Venus and Campbell Early as alternative choices for Concord-like juice. They are in the blue grape section and appear to have similar characteristics as the Concord grape.
“Marionberry flavor” without long trailing vines (blackberries)
Marionberry is a trailing blackberry, ref b notes that the trailing types (including ‘Marion’) are known for excellent flavor and aroma and small seeds—a big reason they’re so valued for eating and processing.
If you switch away from trailing types to reduce the long vine habit you will not get as intense a flavor and the seeds will be relatively large.
If your priority is the classic marionberry flavor, you’ll usually get closest by staying within trailing types.
If your priority is less trailing cane management, look at erect or semi-erect cultivars (often thornless) and plan on trellising. Ref b organizes cultivars into tables by growth type (erect/semierect/trailing/primocane-fruiting), —very useful for picking alternatives.
Loganberries for the Willamette Valley:
Loganberry is a raspberry–blackberry hybrid and are classified as a blackberry: ref b includes two varieties (Logan or Boysen ). Note that OSU places these hybrids in the trailing blackberry group based on growth habit.
So: loganberry can do well here, but it will behave more like a trailing bramble and typically needs trellising/training similar to trailing blackberries.
Red raspberry for jam & yellow raspberry for fresh eating:
Yellow raspberry for eating: Cascade Gold
Red raspberry for jam: Cascade Harvest
When growing for processing fruits, you want enough fruit to ripen in a concentrated window, OSU recommends choosing a summer-bearing red raspberry (and you can add an everbearing type for extended fresh fruit availability for eating throughout the season). ( Ref b)
I hope this helps you in picking your cultivars.
Happy gardening and baking!
I'm including several links to a wonderful OSU series about berries. I'll be referring to these throughout this answer.
Ref a: Grapes https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1639-growing-table-grapes
Ref b: Blackberries:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1303-growing-blackberries-your-home-garden
Ref c: Raspberries: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1306-growing-raspberries-your-home-garden
Ref d: Blueberries
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1304-growing-blueberries-your-home-garden
Ref e: Strawberries:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-1307-growing-strawberries-your-home-garden
Ref f: Wild berries & fruits
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/sp-50-536-preserving-fruits-wild-berries-fruits
Grapes for juice “like Concord”
Concord is an American grape (Vitis labrusca) type known for the classic strong “foxy” juice-grape flavor and aroma; these American types are commonly used for juice, jellies, pies, and fresh eating. Unfortunately, Concord may not ripen in western Oregon if not pruned well.
Ref a ("Growing Table Grapes"), has an Appendix A at the end of the document. Appendix A is list of grape cultivars and their characteristics. I recommend you check out Valiant, Venus and Campbell Early as alternative choices for Concord-like juice. They are in the blue grape section and appear to have similar characteristics as the Concord grape.
“Marionberry flavor” without long trailing vines (blackberries)
Marionberry is a trailing blackberry, ref b notes that the trailing types (including ‘Marion’) are known for excellent flavor and aroma and small seeds—a big reason they’re so valued for eating and processing.
If you switch away from trailing types to reduce the long vine habit you will not get as intense a flavor and the seeds will be relatively large.
If your priority is the classic marionberry flavor, you’ll usually get closest by staying within trailing types.
If your priority is less trailing cane management, look at erect or semi-erect cultivars (often thornless) and plan on trellising. Ref b organizes cultivars into tables by growth type (erect/semierect/trailing/primocane-fruiting), —very useful for picking alternatives.
Loganberries for the Willamette Valley:
Loganberry is a raspberry–blackberry hybrid and are classified as a blackberry: ref b includes two varieties (Logan or Boysen ). Note that OSU places these hybrids in the trailing blackberry group based on growth habit.
So: loganberry can do well here, but it will behave more like a trailing bramble and typically needs trellising/training similar to trailing blackberries.
Red raspberry for jam & yellow raspberry for fresh eating:
Yellow raspberry for eating: Cascade Gold
Red raspberry for jam: Cascade Harvest
When growing for processing fruits, you want enough fruit to ripen in a concentrated window, OSU recommends choosing a summer-bearing red raspberry (and you can add an everbearing type for extended fresh fruit availability for eating throughout the season). ( Ref b)
Other kinds of berries for cobblers and pies.
Refs d,e & f: provide other berries you might consider for cobblers and pies. I think you will find ref f (Preserving Wild Berries) very interesting.I hope this helps you in picking your cultivars.
Happy gardening and baking!
