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Raspberries are a unique berry that everyone loves so much. It is very tasty, healthy and indispensable in any kitchen. This is a subshrub that was first bred in Central Europe. People liked the berries so much that they are used everywhere. On top of that, raspberries are unpretentious and quite easy to care for. Today there are many varieties of raspberries. In this article we will look at a popular version of berries that were bred in 1992. This was done by breeder V.V. Kichina. He called it “The Pride of Russia.” We will consider the description of the variety, its characteristics, features and growing process.
“Pride of Russia” - description of the variety
The raspberry variety “Pride of Russia” grows up to 1.5–1.8 m. The bush is of a compressed type, strong and powerful. When the season comes, the plant produces many shoots. Owners should remove them in time, as the plant grows quickly. Raspberries have straight and thick stems. It is noteworthy that the replacement shoots, of which there can be from 7 to 12 pieces, do not have thorns. One middle branch on which the fruits will grow has 20–30 raspberries. The leaves are dark green, shiny and crenate. The foliage shoots have rosettes at the top.
The main difference between the Pride of Russia raspberries is that its fruits are quite large in size. The average weight of one berry is 10 or 12 grams. Here are the characteristics of raspberry fruits:
- have a dark red color;
- are velvety and shiny;
- very juicy;
- there are some seeds inside;
- the shape resembles a blunt cone;
- the aroma is weak and the taste is sweet and sour.
The raspberry variety can be considered mid-early, since the fruits appear from July to August. It is noteworthy that harvesting occurs in 5 or 6 steps. The variety is self-fertile, early ripening and high-yielding. One bush can produce up to 5 kg of raspberries. You just need to properly care for and feed her. When the berries are ripe, they will not fall off, however, removing them from the stand is quite easy.
Raspberries of the “Pride of Russia” variety are frost-resistant. Uncovered bushes can withstand cold down to -30 °C, which is simply wonderful for the climate of the Russian Federation. And what is more important, the berries are not subject to rot, disease, and pests do not touch them.
Planting raspberries
When should you start planting? The ideal period for planting in the ground is September or October. At worst it could be March. Still, it is preferable to plant bushes in the fall, since the raspberries will be able to take root before the onset of the season. And with the onset of winter, the plant should be covered, since it is not yet quite strong.
It is important to prepare the soil for planting in advance so that the “Pride of Russia” feels good and bears fruit abundantly. Work begins 3 or 3.5 months before planting.You need to free the area from weed, dig up the soil and fertilize it. What is included in the fertilizer? Here is a list of components, based on 1 m2:
- Potassium – 25 grams.
- Manure – 5 kg.
- Superphosphate – 60 grams.
As for choosing a place for planting, it should be well lit. It would be great if there was a fence or building nearby. Loamy soil or black soil is ideal for planting. Ideally, if groundwater is at a distance of at least 1.5 m.
Let's look at step-by-step instructions on how to plant plants in the ground:
- Preparatory work: clearing the soil of weeds, digging and fertilizing.
- Before you start planting raspberries, rotted compost is added to the soil at a rate of 1 m2 7 kg compost.
- Dig holes whose size is 50x50 cm. The distance between each hole is 60 or 70 cm. Having made the first row, you need to step back 1–1.5 m from it and begin to form the next one according to the same pattern.
- You need to pour fertile soil into the dug hole. Two thirds deep will be enough. After which the seedling descends inside. Next you need to carefully spread the raspberry roots over the hole and sprinkle it with soil. Make sure that the root collar is at the same level with the soil.
- At the end, all that remains is to water each “Pride of Russia” raspberry bush with about 4 liters of water. The final stage is mulching with sawdust or humus.
As you can see, the planting process is simple, and the work will take little time. However, if you want to get a decent harvest that you can be proud of, then you need to take care of your raspberries.This care is simple, however, you cannot do without it.
Caring for planted plants
Your task is to do everything on time that is required for a high-quality and rich harvest. The process is not complicated in any way, so you won’t spend a lot of time and effort. The first thing to do is to keep the soil under the plants clean. This includes cleaning and removing grown weeds. Remove them by hand, and dig the soil 30 cm further from the raspberries.
Watering raspberries
It is clear that the plants need to be watered. Raspberries “Pride of Russia” are no exception. The variety can confidently be called moisture-loving. This fact suggests that watering should be done 4 times per season:
- Before the raspberries bloom.
- When the fruits begin to ripen.
- When all the berries are completely collected.
- Before the first frost sets in.
It is preferable to make a drip irrigation system for raspberries “Pride of Russia”. Plants love water, so 1 bush needs up to 4 buckets of liquid. After successful watering, the plants should be mulched.
Raspberry feeding
Raspberries need to be fed every year. If you want to get wonderful fruits that will be tasty, large and healthy, then it is important to start feeding the “Pride of Russia” in a timely manner. How to do this correctly?
- In the first year, use slurry mixed with water (ratio 3:2). One raspberry bush will require 2.5 liters of liquid.
- In spring, you need to add semi-rotted manure to the soil. You can’t do without potassium salt with superphosphates.
- In the fall, when the berry harvest is completed, it is recommended to add ash and potassium-phosphorus preparations.
- When early spring arrives, apply nitrogen fertilizer.
- If you have sandy soil, apply magnesium fertilizer both at the beginning and at the end of the season.
Raspberry pruning
In one season, the Pride of Russia raspberries should be pruned three times:
- At the end of March days. Then you should cut off all dry and damaged shoots at the root. Good ones should be shortened down to the top bud.
- When the buds open, shorten the branches by 14 or 15 cm. This way, you will be able to increase the number of ripened berries.
- Before the onset of cold weather, prune one last time. When there are approximately 15 or 20 days left before the cold weather, remove and cut off the shoots that have been bearing fruit for two years and old shoots. They only thicken the bush, are useless and cannot withstand frost.
Raspberry picking and storage
When should you start picking raspberries? The ideal period is early July. As mentioned earlier, from one bush you can collect from 4 to 5 kg of raspberries. Despite the fact that this variety has dense pulp, raspberries are considered a delicate berry. It is easy to damage. Taking this into account, when harvesting, you should place the berries in a flat container or basket. The recommended layer is 12 or 15 cm, no more. If you follow these rules, you can transport raspberries without problems. She will endure it.
“Pride of Russia” is very tasty both fresh and canned. Raspberries are a universal berry that is suitable for making the following products:
- jam;
- compote;
- jam;
- juice;
- confiture;
- wine.
You can even freeze the raspberries, puree them with sugar, or dry them.But in its fresh form, “Pride of Russia” will be stored for about three days.
Conclusion
Raspberries of the “Pride of Russia” variety are a good option that can be planted on your site. The berries grow large, tasty and healthy. I am pleased with the easy care of the plant and the rich harvest.
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