Fragrant raspberries are a rather rare type of decorative raspberries with large berries, sweet and sour in taste, which, oddly enough, are edible (true, not for everybody). This magnificent bush with pink-raspberry flowers continues to please with its bloom right up to the middle of autumn not only the owners of the site, but also the neighbors. Many of them sometimes do not even know how this plant is properly called. Some call this variety California, others a raspberry, and still others simply Siberian. Fragrant raspberry feels like a queen on the plot, while other perennials feel like Cinderella in comparison with it, because, growing, it occupies almost all the place in an elegant flower bed in front of the hacienda.
Let's get to know this exotic closer
Despite the fact that many recognized this Siberian raspberry in this decorative raspberry, in fairness it must be said that she came from North America (Oregon). Her character is "Nordic", as she grows on the mountain slopes, overgrown with forest, and nothing is done to her. The height of the bush in wildlife is more than 2 meters, and in captivity - about 1.5 meters (sometimes, however, overgrowths occur). The cultivation of fragrant raspberries began to be carried out from the end of the 18th century (as scientists say), but it was introduced to Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. It turned out that the plant is so unpretentious that it can grow everywhere.
Today, raspberry is a rare guest in garden areas, more often this ornamental plant can be seen in squares, parks or private gardens. The simple fact is that with the word "raspberry" few people have the thought of the possibility of using it to decorate the site. But raspberry is the case when stereotypes break.
Fragrant raspberries: description and characteristics of the plant
This decorative type of raspberry is a deciduous shrub, the crown diameter of which significantly exceeds its height; crown shape - vertical, with slightly hanging branches. The root system is flat long, slightly branched roots.
Fragrant raspberries (Rubacer odoratus) is the closest relative of ordinary raspberries (Rubus idaeus), which can be found on any personal plot. Both of them belong to the Rosaceae family. The only difference is the fact that Siberian raspberries belong to the genus Raspberry (Rubacer).
Fragrant raspberry or raspberry blossoms for a very long time: from the end of May to August, the plant pleases its owners, exuding a fragrant aroma.
In our latitudes, the plant needs fruit cross-pollination to set fruit. That is, if you decide to plant raspberries and want to receive fruits, then next to the raspberry “boy” you must definitely plant the raspberry “girl”.
On a note! Do not waste time pollinating flowers manually. This will not help.
As for the varieties of fragrant raspberries, she still does not have her own varieties, but breeders from different countries (England, Russia, Canada) are working in this direction. In raspberries, flowers are either white (f. Albus), or light pink (Tridel).
Bark and branches of a plant
The old shoots of the bush are shiny, smooth, brown and spiky-free branches (in the winter they die by a third), and the young ones are hairy and glandular branches. Moreover, young shoots have a very pleasant aroma. The vegetative period is about seven months (from April to October).
What about the leaves
The unusually large leaves of fragrant raspberries (sometimes reaching a width of 30 cm) have a striking resemblance to the leaves of Canadian maple : that's why it got its name - raspberry. In summer, the leaves have a dark green color, and in the fall - yellow. A characteristic feature of leaf blades, pedicels, petioles and young shoots is their pubescence. As a result of this, at the slightest touch, a powerful release of essential oils occurs, which leads to increased aroma around the plant.
Plant flowers: what they are
If raspberry is ordinary, garden, has rather plain-looking flowers, then fragrant raspberry is a completely different matter. Its main advantage is very large inflorescences (up to 5-6 cm in diameter), white or light pink, with a delicious aroma. You can see them already in early summer on the shoots of the second year. On the shoots of the current year (after pruning of branches of last year made in early spring ), flowers appear later (in July), but they are larger and brighter. Abundant flowering lasts all summer, until the autumn frosts.
Fruit
After flowering on the raspberry bushes of the maple-leaved fragrant (at the end of July), light-raspberry-colored berries are completely plain-looking. Their diameter is about 2 cm, flat in shape and medium-sized, edible, but acidic. That is, if raspberries were lucky with the flowers, then the fruits were not very good. The only connoisseurs of raspberry fruit are birds who eat them with great pleasure.
The advantages of raspberry berries include:
- the fact that their skin is thinner than that of ordinary raspberries;
- possess diaphoretic properties, and they are extremely useful for colds;
- jam of them is piquant.
By the way, the raspberry begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of 5-6 years.
Let's try to plant raspberries
To properly plant fragrant raspberry seedlings, we do this:
- we dig a hole (40 cm wide, 40 cm long and 35-40 cm deep);
- we pour in it rotted manure, compost (50-100 g) and a teaspoon of any complex fertilizer (ash should not be added, since raspberries like slightly acid and alkaline soils);
- spill with water;
- we install a seedling in a hole (we deepen it by no more than 20 cm);
- we dig with the earth and we compact the soil;
- spill abundantly with water;
- mulch with non-acid peat or humus (layer 4-5 cm).
On a note! Planting can be done both in the spring and in the autumn. Since raspberry is a photophilous plant, it is better to choose a sunny place for planting. If you are planting several seedlings, then plant them at a distance of 45-55 cm from each other.
Care Tips
Malinoquin does not require special care, but there are a number of recommendations that are worth considering:
- The soil. Raspberries are not particularly demanding on soils, but they prefer loosely, non-acidified and humus-rich soils, which do not need to be constantly loosened.
- Shine. It tolerates partial shade, but if we put it in the sun, it will only be grateful.
- Watering. Does not need frequent watering: once a week is enough, but plentiful.
Advice! It is necessary to water under the root.
- Top dressing. The plant grows rapidly and responds well to fertilizers that can be applied only 2 times a year: at the beginning of growth (we add humus under the bushes) and at the beginning of fruiting. It can be fed with urea or nitrate (at the rate of 60-70 g per 1 m²).
Advice! As a preventive measure, once every 3 weeks it is necessary to water the plant with nettle infusion.
- Pruning. The weakest shoots of last year (which are thinner than a simple pencil) are cut off in early spring. In shoots that are thicker, we trim off the already frustrated tops (cut where the shoot thickness is 5 mm). At the end of August, we cut off the dying and late shoots of the current year, which were formed from the root.
- Shelter for the winter: not required, as the plant tolerates frosts perfectly. In the spring we examine the shoots and cut off all dead ones.
- Diseases and pests. In case of damage to the plant with a spider mite, we cut off the damaged leaves and burn them (infusions and decoctions of garlic or tomato tops help poorly).
As you can see from the above, planting fragrant raspberries and caring for it are simple.
Breeding
There are several ways to propagate fragrant raspberries:
- by seeds;
- dividing the bush (i.e. green cuttings);
- root shoot.
The simplest, and therefore more popular, is the separation of root offspring (each bush gives them about 4-6 pieces) and planting them on the prepared site. You can also reproduce with the help of seeds: we crush ripe berries, get the seeds and sow them in the ground.
Advantages of fragrant raspberries
Malinoklen has a number of advantages:
- frost resistance;
- undemanding care;
- non-susceptibility to pests and diseases;
- drought tolerance;
- the possibility of obtaining completely edible fruits at the same time as decorative;
- shade tolerance.
Finally
Someone, of course, can say that fragrant raspberries are beautiful, but useless. One can argue with this, remembering the famous dictum that only beauty will save the world. And also not everything beautiful should be necessarily useful.
On a note! When planting raspberries, be alert. The fact is that this plant is quite aggressive in terms of the fact that it grows too rapidly and quickly conquers more and more new territories. Therefore, keep this process under control.