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Despite the variety of modern varieties and hybrids, simple “Soviet” raspberries still grow in most summer cottages. One of these old, but still popular, varieties is Vera raspberry. Vera's berries are not large in size, nor do they have any particularly expressive taste - they are the most ordinary raspberries with small fruits that have a sweet and sour taste and a pronounced aroma. But the variety is considered one of the most stable: raspberries give a good harvest in any summer. Tasters do not rate Vera's taste qualities very highly (about 3.5 points), and it is recommended to use the harvest of this raspberry for technical purposes: for making preserves, jellies, compotes and marmalade.
Information describing the Vera raspberry variety, with photos and reviews of those who planted it on their site, is collected in this article. It will also tell you how to grow raspberries to get the maximum yield, and how to propagate them.
Characteristics of the domestic variety
Scientists from the Siberian Research Institute worked on the selection of a new variety. Vera raspberries were registered almost thirty years ago and recommended for cultivation in the Central and Southern regions of the country. The “parents” of the new hybrid were the most popular varieties at that time: Kaliningradskaya, Barnaulskaya and Novost Kuzmina. The developers of Vera placed the main emphasis on productivity and frost resistance.
Description of the Vera variety:
- raspberries with a short growing season, belong to early ripening varieties;
- Vera's bushes begin to bloom in mid-June, and already in the first ten days of July the first wave of harvest can be harvested;
- the bushes are considered medium-sized, semi-spreading - height ranges from 150 to 180 cm;
- complete formation of the bush occurs by the end of the third year after planting;
- annual shoots are green, flexible, and their tops are slightly curved;
- two-year-old shoots become brown, elastic, but at the same time bend well;
- all of Vera’s shoots are erect, covered with small soft thorns;
- shoot formation is average (it is easy to propagate Vera, but there will not be abundant growth around the bushes);
- all raspberry shoots are quite flexible, unbreakable, and easy to bend to the ground if shelter is needed;
- there are a lot of leaves on the raspberry bushes, they are medium in size, wrinkled, dark green in color;
- medium and small berries;
- the shape of raspberries is blunt-conical;
- average fruit weight – 1.8-2.7 grams;
- raspberries are painted in a uniform shade of purple;
- the drupes are loosely linked to each other, which is why the transportability and keeping quality of the Vera variety are unsatisfactory;
- the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, not too pronounced, without any notes or undertones - an ordinary garden raspberry;
- berries ripen simultaneously;
- the yield of Vera raspberries is high - up to three kilograms of berries can be collected from a bush over the summer, on an industrial scale - about 13 centners per hectare;
- The frost resistance of the variety is average - when the temperature drops below -25 degrees and snowless winters, the raspberry tree requires shelter;
- Vera does not tolerate drought well - the raspberry yield in rainy years will be higher than in dry years;
- the variety is susceptible to infection with purple spot, but is immune to shoot gall midge;
- Raspberries are unpretentious and do not require special care.
Pros and cons of a hybrid
An old raspberry variety with a thirty-year history must have undeniable advantages so that over all these years it does not end up being replaced by the latest hybrids. It cannot be said that Vera raspberry has a lot of positive qualities - this species also has significant disadvantages. But reviews from summer residents and gardeners in the country about these raspberries are mostly positive - they do not disappear from domestic suburban areas and farm fields.
So, Vera raspberries have the following advantages:
- high productivity;
- slight dependence of productivity on climatic features and external factors;
- average frost resistance;
- quite pleasant taste;
- suitability for technical use and processing;
- unpretentiousness and resistance to some diseases;
- simultaneous ripening of berries and their inability to shed.
Old raspberries also have disadvantages. The most important disadvantages of Vera raspberries are:
- poor drought resistance (regular watering is required in arid regions);
- insufficient frost resistance (farmers have to spend money and time covering raspberries);
- lack of immunity to the main raspberry disease - purple spot;
- poor keeping quality of berries and unsuitability of the crop for transportation;
- not a very “elite” taste of Vera berries.
Agrotechnical techniques
As already mentioned in the article, growing the Vera variety is quite simple - you don’t need to be a professional gardener. The most important thing on which raspberry productivity depends is high-quality planting material. Therefore, first of all, the summer resident needs to purchase good seedlings.
Here are some tips for inexperienced farmers:
- Raspberry seedlings, like other garden crops, are recommended to be purchased from nurseries;
- high-quality planting material is not wrapped in polyethylene - the roots quickly rot in such conditions;
- the height of the shoots should be small - the younger the raspberry seedling, the better it will take root after planting;
- the root system must be well developed, without traces of insects and infections;
- Each bush should have from two to four shoots.
Good raspberry seedlings are shown in the photo below.
Landing conditions
Even before purchasing Vera’s seedlings, it is necessary to find a suitable place on the site for a raspberry plant and calculate how many bushes will fit there. Raspberries of the Vera variety love well-lit areas., therefore, its bushes are not grown in the shade of buildings or trees - this will have a bad effect on the survival rate, development of raspberries and their yield.
It’s good if the place is on a slight hill, but a flat area will do. The most important thing is that water does not accumulate in the soil near Vera’s roots; this will cause the raspberries to die.
The soil is preferably loose, nutritious, well permeable to air and moisture. Optimal conditions are neutral soil acidity, but slight acidification of the soil is also acceptable.
It is recommended to plant Vera raspberries in the fall - at the end of September or in the first ten days of October. Pre-prepare the area for planting: dig up the ground, spread humus, compost or rotted manure (potassium mineral fertilizers can be used).
Then prepare the holes, making them at a distance of 60-70 cm from each other. You can make trenches, then their depth should be about 30 cm and width - 50-60 cm. Row spacing for Vera raspberries should be 100-120 cm.
Before planting, add a good handful of wood ash to each hole or trench. Now the seedling is placed in the middle of the hole, its roots are carefully straightened and the raspberries are sprinkled with soil. All that remains is to water the seedlings and wait for them to take root.
Escape tactics
The Vera variety requires careful care in the post-planting period. Immediately after planting the seedlings, it is recommended to do the following:
- Monitor soil subsidence and add soil in a timely manner, making sure that the root buds are not exposed (they should be 2-3 cm underground).
- Mulch the raspberry tree with straw, peat or humus, protecting it from weed, drying out of the soil.
- Before the onset of severe frosts, cover young raspberries using pine spruce branches, straw or sawdust.
An adult raspberry tree requires minimal care:
- regular watering during dry periods (it is better to use drip irrigation systems);
- weeding and loosening the soil around the bushes, which can be replaced with a layer of mulch;
- preventive treatment of bushes at the initial stage of flowering (you can use Bordeaux mixture, karbofos or chemicals);
- fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers at least 2-3 times during the summer;
- installing supports so that the shoots are better ventilated and do not lie on the ground;
- spring and autumn pruning, which involves the removal of two-year-old shoots and sanitary cleaning of raspberries;
- shelter for the winter in regions with frosty and snowless winters.
Review
Conclusion
Raspberry Vera is an old domestic variety, one of the few that has been able to maintain popularity for 30 years. It is not difficult to grow these raspberries; they do not require special care.
The disadvantages of Vera should be taken into account: protect it from the heat, water it, cover it for the winter and spray the bushes for preventive purposes. It cannot be said that the berries of this variety will delight you with an unusual or excellent taste; these are the most common garden raspberries, from which you can make aromatic jams and healthy compotes.
