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Russia is a recognized world leader in raspberry cultivation. It is ideally suited for cultivation in temperate and cold climates. Berries are valued not only for their excellent taste, they have healing properties and are successfully used to treat and prevent cardiovascular, colds and other diseases. Raspberry fruits contain substances that prevent the occurrence of arteriosclerosis, regulating the functions of metabolism, the thyroid and prostate glands. This is not counting vitamins, proteins, organic acids, pectins, sugars, antioxidants, tannins. Raspberries are also less likely than others to accumulate radionuclides, heavy metal salts, and herbicides.
Remontant varieties usually bear fruit until frost, therefore, they are the most welcome guests in personal plots. We are accustomed to the fact that most cultivated fruit plants have to be adapted to cold climates. Raspberries are a completely different story; they often grow worse in regions with hot, long summers; here it is important not to make a mistake with the choice of variety.Today we will tell you about the features of remontant raspberry varieties for the south of Russia.
What are remontant raspberries?
Every spring, remontant raspberries grow new shoots, forming a harvest by the end of summer or autumn. With the beginning of winter, part of the shoots that have finished bearing fruit will dry out, and the remaining ones will produce fruit branches with berries next spring, just like ordinary raspberry varieties.
It turns out that remontant varieties bear fruit twice - the first, early raspberry harvest is obtained on branches that bore fruit the previous year. in autumn, the second - on the tops of young shoots. Such double fruiting greatly weakens the bush, which leads to a deterioration in quality, as well as a decrease in the number of fruits.
Most remontant raspberry varieties are recommended to be used to obtain one harvest - ripened on annual vines. Then, with the onset of frost or early spring, they are cut at ground level.
This has its advantages - the main pests and pathogens diseases raspberries hide precisely under the bark of wintering shoots, therefore, the young shoots simply will not get sick and we will not have to use chemicals. In addition, we are avoiding the problems of freezing and damping off of remontant varieties during the cold period.
On the other hand, last year’s branches of remontant raspberries begin to bear fruit very early; in the south of Russia, the first berries on some varieties appear already in the first ten days of July. Thus, with skillful selection of varieties, raspberry fruiting can last for almost six months, which is very attractive both for those who simply enjoy the aromatic berry and for people who grow this crop for sale.
How do remontant raspberries differ from ordinary ones?
Naturally, the main difference is that ordinary raspberries bear fruit on a two-year growth, and remontant varieties produce two harvests - one on last year's branches, the second, extended in terms of ripening until late autumn - on the upper part of spring shoots. But the differences don't end there.
It is very easy to propagate ordinary raspberries - you plant a couple of bushes on the plot and, thanks to the abundant growth after a few years, you satisfy not only your own need for planting material, but also actively distribute “extra” plants to your friends and neighbors. Remontant raspberries are not like that. Most varieties produce very little root growth, sometimes barely enough to replace dying two-year-old shoots. This makes it very difficult to reproduce.
Ordinary raspberries have many pests and are often sick. It is almost impossible to obtain a full harvest without chemical treatments. As we noted above, the larvae of raspberry pests and spores of harmful bacteria overwinter under the bark of old shoots. To fight them, considerable financial and labor costs are required, and after many treatments, the berries can no longer be called environmentally friendly.
If grow remontant raspberries in an annual crop, then you can simply forget about most diseases, and worry about pests only as they appear.After all, the most dangerous of them had nowhere to overwinter, and if there are no ordinary raspberry plantings nearby, it is quite possible that the pests will bypass your area. Those insects that overwinter in the ground and are not removed along with shoots that have completed fruiting are not able to adapt to the stages of development of remontant varieties.
Features of raspberry cultivation in the southern regions
The parental forms of raspberries of modern varieties originate from northern latitudes. This is precisely the reason why this crop is more frost-resistant than drought-resistant. It easily adapts to low temperatures, and a long spring and a short, cool summer are just what is needed for raspberries.
The specifics of growing remontant raspberries in the south of Russia, in particular in the Kuban, are determined by the climate, namely the early hot spring. After the end of winter, the temperature rises rapidly and often reaches 25-30 degrees by the end of April. Added to this are winters with little snow with frequent thaws and drying winds that take moisture from the soil, which often lacks a protective snow cover.
Numerous studies have shown that the main problem when growing raspberries in the southern regions is drying of the shoots, which sharply increases towards the end of winter. At this time, the plant is still dormant; the dry wind takes moisture from last year’s stems, as well as the top layer of soil, where most of the raspberry roots lie. Although its root system is well branched, it lies mainly at a depth of 30-40 cm.
This determines the requirements for the placement of raspberry plantings in the southern regions:
- Raspberry plantings should be well protected from the wind. They are best planted in areas surrounded by forests, in the steppe - under the protection of forest belts or gardens. In the North Caucasus, raspberries are best planted on the northern and western mountain slopes.
- Although raspberries are not as demanding on watering as black currants and do not like stagnation of water at the roots, the first condition for its successful cultivation is a sufficient amount of moisture in the soil throughout the entire growing season. In the southern regions, at high temperatures, this crop can be called extremely demanding of watering; there, raspberries will feel best in ravines or river valleys. In the North Caucasus, more precipitation falls in mountainous areas; industrial plantations or raspberry plots without artificial irrigation need to be established there.
- In the southern regions, plants receive a lot of ultraviolet radiation, while raspberries are native to the north and tolerate shading well in the North Caucasus. She feels good in the shade of trees, between outbuildings, in the shade of a house and will be content with a small amount of sunlight. In the sun, raspberry leaves turn yellow ahead of time, and the berries can “cook” without reaching marketable ripeness.
Based on the above, novice gardeners may have the brilliant idea of placing raspberries in the rows of the garden. Do not do that! Raspberries can produce many root shoots and quickly clog the garden. At the same time, it can go wild, and it will be difficult to fight the shoots without disturbing the root system of fruit trees. The yield of wild raspberries will be ridiculous, but it will draw nutrients from the top layer of soil and will also complicate planned treatments for diseases and pests, as well as harvesting.
In the southern regions, raspberries should be planted in the fall, preferably after the end of Indian summer. Even the most resistant varieties will not have time to take root if the temperature rises rapidly in the spring - neither frequent watering nor treatment with stimulants will help. As a rule, at high temperatures, spring plantings do not survive until summer.
Varieties of remontant raspberries for the south of Russia
For the southern regions, it is important to choose the right raspberry varieties. If the planting material is unsuitable for growing in a hot climate, you may encounter the same problems as Kuban farmers:
Fortunately, Russia is not only a leader in growing and harvesting raspberries. Domestic breeders academicians V.V. Kichin and I.V. Over the past 40 years, Kazakov have created many varieties, including remontant varieties, capable of successfully bearing fruit in different regions of Russia. You just need to be careful when choosing planting material.
Let's look at remontant raspberry varieties intended specifically for cultivation in hot climates.
Crane
Remontant raspberry, which is recommended for growing in a two-year cycle. Powerful stems usually grow no higher than 2.0 m, each bush of the variety produces about 2.0 kg of fruit. The berries are tasty, ruby in color, their weight can reach 3.5 g.
Apricot
Remontant raspberries, the average weight of berries reaches 3.0-3.5 g; each bush can produce up to 2 kg of berries. The fruits are conical, with a blunt tip, golden-apricot, the pulp is tasty and aromatic. The variety ripens from the beginning of August and produces up to 3/4 of the harvest before frost.
The raspberry bushes of this variety are medium-sized, slightly spreading, the length of the vines is 1.2-1.5 m.
Indian summer
A wonderful raspberry variety of Russian selection, remontant, recommended for fruiting on spring shoots. The bushes are medium tall, medium spreading, with straight, highly branched stems. The berries weigh 2.0-3.0, sometimes 4.0 g, red, tasty, round, aromatic. 1.0-1.5 kg of fruits are collected from one raspberry bush.
Indian Summer-2
It is a variety of remontant high-yielding raspberries, producing up to 2.5 kg of product. Medium-sized (no higher than 1.5 m), a bush with straight branching stems produces up to 5 replacement shoots. Fruits about 2/3 of the branch length.
The juicy, tasty fruits of the variety weigh up to 3.5 g, have excellent commercial quality and are suitable both for fresh consumption and for any processing. In the south, this raspberry variety manages to produce almost the entire harvest before frost.
Diamond
This remontant raspberry is recommended for fruiting on spring shoots. A one and a half meter bush annually produces no more than 6 replacement shoots and several root suckers. The fruiting part usually occupies more than half of the slightly drooping branches.
The productivity of the variety is good - 3.0 kg of raspberries are harvested from one bush. Usually the berries begin to fill in August and in the south almost all the fruits have time to ripen. Large, shiny, ruby caps weigh 4.0-4.5 g, maximum 7.0 g. It is remarkable that after full ripening, the raspberry fruits do not fall off, and can remain on the bush for up to a week without reducing their commercial qualities.
Eurasia
An excellent raspberry, recognized as one of the best remontant varieties. The berries are large, their weight often reaches 4.5 g, maximum 6.5 g; 2.5 kg of product can be collected from a bush.Raspberries are distinguished by dense, conical fruits, dark crimson color, early ripening, and uniform fruiting.
Standard bushes, straight, up to one and a half meters high, very beautiful, they themselves can decorate any garden. The health of this raspberry variety is excellent; it can grow and bear fruit abundantly in different climatic zones.
Firebird
Producing 2.5 kg of raspberries, this is a high-yielding, remontant variety with a good ability to form shoots. Raspberries can grow up to 2.0 m in height; the upper part of the branches has few thorns.
The variety begins to bear fruit from the end of August and produces most of its harvest before frosts in the south. Berries up to 4.5 g of the same size, red, with a delicate dessert taste. This remontant raspberry has dense but juicy pulp and is easily transported.
Penguin
Raspberries of the remontant variety, which ripen early, are distinguished by the standard form of low bushes. Short, strong, up to 1.2 m stems are covered with a large number of thorns.
Raspberry caps weighing up to 5 g may not fall off the branches for 5 days after ripening, without losing their marketable qualities. The yield of the variety is 2.0 kg per bush. Round raspberry berries ripen early and yield their harvest in early autumn.
Ruby necklace
It is a variety of highly productive remontant raspberry with drooping stems no more than 1.5 m long, forming up to 7 replacement shoots. For fruiting, it is better to leave only annual spring shoots.
The berries are large, each can weigh 5.5 g, maximum 8.0 g. Raspberry caps have a cylindrical shape, ruby color, a fairly dense consistency, and a pleasant taste. Up to 3 kg of berries are usually taken from a bush. Raspberries are good for freezing, processing and eating.The variety begins to bear fruit in August and produces about 90% of the harvest before the onset of frost.
Orange miracle
Yellow raspberries with fairly large caps weighing up to 7 g, maximum 9 g. One plant produces up to 2.5 kg of aromatic dessert berries. A bush up to 1.7 m high produces a lot of shoots for remontant varieties and no more than 7 replacement shoots. Fruiting is long lasting, usually beginning in August.
Conclusion
In fact, there are many more varieties of raspberries, including remontant varieties, suitable for growing in hot climates. And what’s nice is that most of them are of domestic selection. The video will tell you about the features of remontant raspberries:
If raspberries do not grow for you, it means that you placed them incorrectly or chose the wrong varieties. Remember that this wonderful berry is grown almost everywhere in our country, it just puts forward different requirements for care and placement depending on the climate.
