Double Gold Raspberry

Double Gold was developed by Courtney A. Weber at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, and received Plant Patent PP24811 (filed October 30, 2012; granted August 26, 2014), with Cornell University as assignee. The variety originated from a controlled hand-pollinated cross between maternal parent Cornell NY319 — an unpatented red-fruited selection from the Cornell breeding program — and paternal parent Graton Gold (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,625), a California-discovered amber sport of Heritage. The breeding objective was to develop an everbearing raspberry combining the superior cane vigor and large, well-shaped fruit of the red breeding line with the golden coloration of Graton Gold, suited to temperate-climate dual-season production. The name reflects the two-crop structure inherited from both parents: floricane production augments the heavier primocane fall crop, a productivity profile the patent notes as commercially significant for both pick-your-own and home-garden markets.

Double Gold performs best in a site with full sun and good air circulation—two factors that work together to speed cane drying after rain and reduce Botrytis pressure on the fruit. Soil should be loamy and well-drained, with a pH held between 6.0 and 6.8; even mild pH drift toward alkaline can lock out manganese and iron, causing interveinal chlorosis on the new canes. In clay-heavy soils, raised beds or ridge planting improve drainage around the crown, which this variety’s moderate sensitivity to Phytophthora Root Rot makes advisable. Consistent moisture during flowering (late April through late May) and fruit set is critical—the two-crop model places high metabolic demand on the plant across an extended season. Drip irrigation rather than overhead watering cuts foliage wetness time and reduces fungal entry points. Chill hour requirements of roughly 800 to 1,000 hours fit comfortably within most temperate continental climates in zones 4 through 8; growers in zone 8 should select sites with winter cold accumulation rather than coastal moderation.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
AHS Heat Zone: 3-7
Chill Hours: 800-1000
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Soil Type: Loam, well-drained; tolerates clay, sand, and high organic matter
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium; consistent moisture needed, especially during flowering and fruiting
Drought Tolerance: Low
Plant Spacing: 18-24 inches in row; 5-8 ft between rows
How to Prune: Remove all floricanes after summer harvest; mow or cut all canes to ground in late winter for primocane-only management; thin to 4-6 strongest canes per foot of row

Canes reach 4 to 6 feet tall and arch outward at the tips as they gain height, forming an upright thicket that spreads laterally through root suckers and rhizomes. This colonizing tendency means rows fill in rapidly—useful for edible hedgerow plantings but requiring annual attention to contain spread to the designated row footprint. Individual canes follow the standard Rubus biennial pattern: primocanes emerge in spring, grow vegetatively through summer, then bear a fall crop in their first year before overwintering and producing a summer crop as floricanes the following year. The fibrous, shallow root system—typically within the top 12 to 18 inches of soil—means cultivation near canes risks root damage; mulching is a more compatible approach to weed management. Thorns are present on the canes, so work gloves are practical for pruning and harvest. Mature spread of 2 to 3 feet per plant in-row makes 18- to 24-inch in-row spacing appropriate, with rows kept 5 to 8 feet apart to allow equipment or picker access and maintain air movement through the canopy.

Mature Height: 4-6 ft tall
Mature Spread: 2-3 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright, arching canes; thicket-forming via root suckers
Growth Rate: Fast
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Shrub
Permaculture Role: Fruiting shrub; bee forage plant; wildlife food source; edible hedgerow
Leaf Color: Dark green (upper surface); silvery-white fuzzy underside
Thorns?: Yes
Attracts Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals
Life Span: individual canes are biennial (2-year cycle), roots are long-lived

Double Gold is self-fertile—each flower carries functional male and female parts, and the variety sets fruit reliably without a designated pollinator partner. Bloom runs from late April through late May, producing small white flowers that attract bees and other native pollinators. Insect traffic measurably improves both fruit size and set percentage even on self-fertile cultivars, so planting within 100 to 200 feet of other raspberry varieties in bloom at the same time—such as Anne Raspberry or Fall Gold Yellow Raspberry—is worth considering if maximizing first-crop size is a priority. Both yellow everbearers share comparable bloom windows and benefit from the same insect visitors, creating a mutually reinforcing planting scheme. Avoid planting dense windbreaks immediately upwind of raspberry rows during bloom; while raspberries are primarily insect-pollinated, strong wind can desiccate flowers and reduce fruit set.

Bloom Season: Very Early
Bloom Window: Late Apr - Late May
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (bees); self-fertile
Flower Color: White

Fruit runs approximately 0.75 inch in diameter with a tender, juicy texture and a golden champagne to peachy-coral color that deepens slightly with sun exposure. Flavor is the primary distinguisher from standard red raspberries: sweetness is the dominant note, with honey-like undertones and only mild background acidity—making it accessible to people who find conventional raspberries too tart. There is no documented commercial Brix standard for Double Gold, but informal tasting comparisons place it in the 12 to 14 Brix range typical of select yellow everbearers at full ripeness. Storage life is short—two to three days under refrigeration—so this variety suits fresh eating, local market sales, and u-pick operations rather than long-distance shipping. For preservation, the fruit freezes cleanly: individual quick-freeze on a sheet pan before bagging prevents clumping. Culinary applications include jams, jellies, baked goods, smoothies, and wine; the mild flavor integrates well without the sharpness that sometimes dominates in red-raspberry applications. Leaves are also edible and can be dried for tea.

Ripening Season: Early | Late
Harvest Window: Early Jul - Late Jul | Mid Sep
Fruit Size: 0.75 inch
Flavor: Sweet, mild honey-like sweetness with subtle raspberry notes; low acidity
Fruit Color: Golden champagne to peachy-coral with pink blush
Fruit Texture: Tender, juicy
Bearing Habit: Everbearing (primocane and floricane); produces two crops annually
Years to Bear: 1-2 years
Storage Life: 2-3 days refrigerated; freezes well for long-term storage
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, jams, jellies, baked goods, smoothies, desserts, wine

Double Gold carries moderate resistance to Botrytis Fruit Rot (Botrytis cinerea), the most common harvest-season disease of raspberries in humid climates. Thin canes to 4 to 6 per foot of row to open airflow, time irrigation to avoid wetting fruit before harvest, and remove overripe fruit promptly. Resistance to Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora spp.) is solid—so well-drained sites convert that genetic advantage into reliable crown health. Spur Blight (Didymella applanata) resistance is moderate; disinfect pruning tools between cuts and remove infected canes after summer harvest. Cane Blight (Leptosphaeria coniothyrium) and Anthracnose (Elsinoe veneta) show moderate susceptibility: both enter through wounds and pruning cuts, so sanitation and tool sterilization are the first line of defense. On the pest side, Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), Raspberry Crown Borer (Pennisetia marginata), Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica), and Raspberry Cane Borer (Oberea bimaculata) all fall in the moderately susceptible range. Monitor SWD with vinegar-yeast traps when fruit color breaks; harvest promptly and dispose of culled fruit off-site. For Crown Borer, cut wilting cane tips below the damage line. OMRI-listed spinosad products are appropriate for SWD and Japanese Beetle when monitoring thresholds are exceeded.

Botrytis Fruit Rot: Moderately Resistant
Phytophthora Root Rot: Resistant
Spur Blight: Moderately Resistant
Cane Blight: Moderately Susceptible
Anthracnose: Moderately Susceptible
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Moderately Susceptible
Raspberry Crown Borer: Moderately Susceptible
Japanese Beetle: Moderately Susceptible
Raspberry Cane Borer: Moderately Susceptible

• Two-Crop Pruning Decision: For maximum total yield, leave floricanes standing after the summer crop so they produce the fall flush on primocane tips; for simpler row management, mow all canes to the ground and manage as a primocane-only fall producer.
• Cane Blight and Anthracnose Sanitation: Both diseases overwinter in infected cane tissue; remove and destroy (do not compost) all pruned floricanes each season and sterilize bypass pruners with 70% isopropyl between plants to cut re-infection routes.
• SWD Harvest Timing: Harvest the fall crop every 2 to 3 days and remove any overripe fruit from the planting immediately — brief delays in humid late-season conditions allow rapid population buildup.
• Row Containment: Root suckers emerge 1 to 2 feet outside the intended row each season; sever them with a spade or rotary mower promptly to keep the planting footprint manageable and reduce competition between canes.
• Japanese Beetle Management: Do not use bag traps near the planting — they attract more beetles than they catch, increasing localized damage. Hand-pick into soapy water in early morning or apply OMRI-listed kaolin clay as a physical deterrent during peak beetle season.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital