Fragrant and vibrant raspberries are the smell and taste of summer. They appear on our table one of the very first. You can grow a traditional berry without difficulty in your area or in the country, and in order for the crop to please and be plentiful, it is important to determine the variety. Red or yellow? Repair or regular? Foreign or domestic selection? All these questions will be answered by our article.
What and how to choose?
Gardeners often chase large-fruited varieties, as their productivity is higher. However, they are often quite demanding and need careful care, including shelter for the winter. This is a rather capricious raspberry. Traditional varieties ("meteor" in particular) are easier to grow, the berries are smaller, but as a rule, they retain a unique aroma and high taste. Easy to agricultural and repair raspberries. Varieties with very large berries are often characterized by wateriness and a feeling of unsaturated, “diluted” taste. However, this is all a matter of personal preference. It is important to remember that with improper care, none of the varieties can give a good harvest, as well as reveal their advantages.
Large - fruited raspberry varieties: general description
Raspberries are considered large-fruited, the berries of which grow from 5 to 12 g in weight, and individual specimens grow to 15-18 g. With proper care, one bush can be harvested up to 5-6 kg. A characteristic feature of hybrids of this species is the ability to branch fruit branches. This is one of the reasons for high yields. Very large raspberries (red-fruited or yellow) can be early ("tarusa"), medium ("giant", "patrician") or late ripening. All varieties have their own characteristics that must be considered when growing. As a rule, they are all thermophilic and require winter shelter, but there are also winter hardy ones. Large berries have a good ability to transportability and shelf life. In this regard, large-fruited varieties are more popular among farmers, owners of private farms.
Repair raspberries: characteristics and benefits
The main feature for which remont raspberries are loved is the ability to produce crops in two stages (early spring and autumn). The group of varieties in this category is quite extensive, and some of them have been known for over 200 years. For example, the meteor remont raspberry (variety description later in the text) begins to bear fruit in the first year after planting. So, with an early spring planting or a late autumn (in October) summer of next year, you will already be harvesting. Plants are highly resistant to adverse environmental conditions (frost, drought), pests and diseases. In addition, repair varieties do not grow as fast as others.
However, there is one basic requirement that should be observed when planting - the most lighted and warm place in the garden for planting. Even slight shading will lead to poor quality berries and lower yields. For the same reason, the distance between the rows of remont raspberries should be at least one and a half meters, and between individual plants - 0.7 m.
Popular repair varieties
1. Raspberry "Eurasia" is included in the State Register, it is a variety for universal use. Bushes of a standard type, erect, of medium height (1.3-1.6 m). Forms up to 6 shoots of substitution, prickly strong. Conical berries of a dark raspberry shade are opaque, well separated from the stem. When ripening, do not rot on the bush for 5-7 days. It tastes sweet and sour, without a characteristic aroma. Raspberry Eurasia is characterized by medium ripening (first decade of August) and high productivity - more than 2.5 kg of berries from one bush.
2. Hercules raspberries - a large-fruited variety with erect shoots that do not require garter. The truncated-conical shape of the berries is large, weighing up to 5-6 g, saturated ruby color, have good transportability, sweet and sour taste. Productivity - up to 1.5 kg from each bush.
3. Raspberry "Bryansk divo" - a fruitful variety (up to 2.5-3 kg per bush) with large berries weighing an average of 8.5 g, bright red color, conical shape. One of the promising hybrids. Ripening dates vary; in the southern regions, the bush begins to bear fruit stably from mid-July.
Varieties of raspberries with yellow berries
Yellow raspberries are not cultivated on an industrial scale, rather, it is the prerogative of summer residents. Perhaps this can be explained by the fact that good quality planting material is not so easy to find and buy. Interest in this type of berry shrub is spurred by its unusualness, attractive appearance and a sweeter taste. However, the berries are not as dense and elastic, not as transportable as, for example, the meteor raspberry variety. Care for yellow raspberries, however, is similar. There are traditional, and repair, and large-fruited varieties. Let us dwell on the most famous.
- "The Yellow Giant." The appearance of the plant is fully consistent with its name. Bushes are sprawling and powerful, up to 2.5 m high. Large berries reach the size of a walnut. The shoots are covered with straight and straight spikes. The berries can be rounded and obtuse in shape, painted in a light apricot color, the pulp is dense, pleasant and melting in the mouth texture, the aroma is moderate. Productivity is high - 3-6 kg per bush.
- Amber. A promising variety with medium late ripening berries. The plant forms a tall bush (2-2.5 m), powerful, but compact and upright. The ability to shoot is average. It is characterized by high productivity, it is possible to collect up to three kilograms of berries from one bush. They have a rich dessert flavor, the pulp is elastic and dense, has a pronounced raspberry aroma. The berries are oblong in shape, outwardly attractive, amber in color. The variety is relatively resistant to frost, lodging shoots and some specific diseases. Berries "amber" have a relatively good transportability, which is rare.
- "The Yellow Runaway." An early raspberry variety characterized by the formation of slightly sprawling, strong shrubs. It is characterized by high frost resistance, low sensitivity to diseases. Berries of medium size (3 g), soft golden hue, taste sweet and sour with a subtle characteristic raspberry aroma. The purpose is universal, they are used not only in fresh form, but also for processing, freezing. Productivity is average, but stable.
Traditional raspberries
The name of the entire group of hybrids speaks for itself. Although not all of its representatives are distinguished by a plentiful or early harvest, a long fruiting period, they are reliable and time-tested. For example, raspberries “meteor” (description of the variety below), “patrician” and “balm”. They adapt well to the most diverse environmental conditions, climate, soils, annually forming a large number of offspring. The harvest is not as rich as that of large-fruited varieties, but you can always be sure of its availability. The berries are medium in size, with a strong and characteristic raspberry aroma, sweet, with high taste. It is impossible to fit a description of all varieties within one article. We bring to your attention the most popular and proven hybrids.
Raspberry meteor: variety description
This hybrid was obtained by crossing the varieties "Kuzmin News" and "Kostinbrodskaya", was included in the State Register in 1987. Fruits of universal purpose, suitable for including freezing, early ripening. The bush is powerful, upright shoots with a slightly drooping top, of medium height with a thickening of up to 25 pieces per square meter. The thorns are practically absent, they are barely noticeable, small and soft. Berries of conical regular shape, but with a blunt rounding, medium size (2-3 g), dessert sweet taste. This is a traditional red raspberry. "Meteor" compares favorably with the rest by its high resistance to the main diseases of the fungal nature. However, it is sensitive to spider mites, shoot shoots, purple spotting. The average yield is up to 2 kg per bush, but stable. Winter-hardy variety, does not require shelter, not only in the suburbs, but also in the middle lane, in the Urals.
Traditional raspberries "Meteor" reviews are extremely positive. In the photo you can see the berries of this variety. A time-tested hybrid is a good buy. It can easily withstand a cool climate, a shaded place, adjusts to the features of the soil and will delight the regular harvest of delicious berries. However, gardeners recommend using them fresh or frozen, they slightly acidify in jam.
Grade "Balsam"
This hybrid is modern, promising and extremely popular among gardeners. Ripening times are average. The variety was obtained as a result of crossing the “ruby of the Bulgarian” and “Newburg”. It has good frost resistance, resistant to drying and drying in winter. In rare cases, affected by a spider mite or purple spotting. Raspberry “balm” will delight you with higher than average productivity - up to 2.5 kg of universal berries are harvested from the bush. The plant forms a sprawling bush up to 1.8 m high, upright stems that do not require garter and trellis. The ability to form shoots is developed on average - up to 20 pieces per square meter. The variety is characterized by medium-sized berries (2.7-3.5 g) with a broad-conical shape and dense texture, the color is dark purple, the taste is medium. They are well separated from the peduncle, ripen at once, the aroma is weakly expressed. Of the shortcomings that raspberry “balm” has, it should be noted the susceptibility to the disease is purple spotting.
Hussar variety
The hybrid belongs to the so-called golden varieties that were bred by I. Kazakov, a breeder. It was introduced into mass gardening since 1999 and has since been widely used mainly due to its unpretentiousness. In order for the raspberry "hussar" to give a good harvest, it will not require excessive efforts, special knowledge and extensive experience. Tall bushes up to 1.8 m tall are strong and sprawling, under good conditions they reach 2-2.5 m. Thorns are poorly developed and only in the lower part of the shoots, so the harvest will be "painless". Despite the height, a garter is not required. The shoots are fleshy, with a slightly reddish tint and a waxy coating that prevents excessive evaporation of moisture, which indicates drought resistance. The berries are similar in shape and color to the meteor raspberry variety, but slightly more elongated, weighing an average of 4 g, at the stage of full maturity - a rich ruby hue. The pulp is dense, so the fruits stick well to the bush, do not fall, carry transportation over distances. The purpose of the berries is universal, the variety is considered a dessert, the taste is sweet and sour with a pleasant delicate aroma. The high content of sugars helps to use them not only in fresh form, but also in compotes, confiture, jams.
Due to its high productivity and good presentation, the raspberry “hussar” has established itself as a variety for cultivation on home gardens and farms for the purpose of marketing. The great advantage in this case is the plant's resistance to many diseases of various etiologies characteristic of this shrub.
Raspberry Spark: Variety Description
Dessert variety of medium maturity, included in the State Register for the Volga-Vyatka district. The plant on the site forms a sprawling and powerful, tall bush. This feature is important to consider when landing. Biennial shoots of brown color with a sufficient number of short and straight spikes over the entire surface. Leaves are slightly corrugated, dark green. Like the raspberry "meteor" (variety description above), it has an average ability to form shoots, therefore it does not form too much thickening.
The berries are not too large, the average weight is 1.8 g, the shape is blunt close to round, red, the surface is glossy, and the taste is of medium quality, sweet and sour. The pulp is uniform, elastic, and therefore the variety tolerates transportation well. The plant is winter-hardy, resistant to drought, weakly sensitive to diseases characteristic of raspberries.
Variety "companion"
Raspberry late ripening, obtained by crossing varieties "Ottawa" and "Bulgarian ruby." Appointment is characterized as technical. Berries are used mainly for processing (the final product has an intense color) and freezing. Bush plants of medium height (1.8 m), stems erect, powerful. The ability to form overgrowth is weak, up to 10 pieces are formed on one square meter. The shoots are strong, in the autumn period they are painted bright red, covered with a wax coating, with an average number of hard and thin spikes over the entire surface, but most of all at the base.
Raspberry companion has large berries up to 3 g in weight, hemispherical, saturated red, with dense pulp. Taste is satisfactory. The presentation is excellent, the average yield is up to 2 kg from one bush.
Raspberries with black berries
Raspberries have a rich dark blue or black shade with a characteristic glossy surface, as they say, few people know in person. Varieties are quite rare and are considered more exotic. Do not confuse them with hybrids of raspberries and blackberries. They are more similar to the latter in both form and taste. Raspberries with black berries have their own characteristics, in particular, it does not form root offspring, its shoots, high and curved in an arc, are covered with sharp spikes. This is simultaneously a plus, since there is no need to remove the shoots, and a minus, since it is difficult to propagate on the site. Unlike its red "cousin", it is much less susceptible to cold and drought, diseases and pests. Special care for aronia raspberries is not required. Another characteristic and distinctive feature is that ripe berries do not fall off the bushes, but unlike blackberries, they are easily removed from the stalk. The most common varieties: "Cumberland", "litach", "Bristol", "coal", "New Logan" (pictured), "Boysenberry".
Features of the choice of planting material
Strong and healthy seedlings are already half the success and guarantee of a good harvest of raspberries. When choosing them, you should pay attention to some requirements:
- Plants with an open root system should be shortened to 40 cm in height. If the seedlings were grown in a pot, then their sale with leaves and not shortened is allowed.
- Raspberry shoots should not be dry and with mechanical damage.
- Pay attention to appearance, as infection with viral and fungal diseases is completely unacceptable.
- The minimum number of shoots on seedlings is 1-2 pcs. with a diameter of the base of 1-2 cm, the length of the roots is at least 15 cm.
- Varietal purity should be maintained at 100%.