Content
Raspberry Sokolitsa was brought to Russia in 2011, but has already managed to win the love of gardeners. A dessert variety of universal use, suitable for cultivation in open ground and under film. This makes it possible to grow raspberries in areas with harsh climatic conditions.
History of origin
Sokolica was bred by Polish breeders Jan Danek and Agnieszka Ozel. For production, scientists crossed several varieties of varietal raspberries with clones. The new culture was registered in the State Register of Poland in 2010.
Sokolitsa raspberries entered the territory of the former CIS countries in 2011. For several more years, gardeners looked at the new variety with caution. In Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, mass cultivation of raspberries of this species began in 2015-2016.
Description of Sokolitsa raspberry variety
Sokolitsa berries are frozen, canned, added to baked goods, and eaten fresh. Chilled fruits remain fresh for 5-7 days.
Berries
Sokolitsa blooms vigorously and abundantly in May. The peduncles are white, medium in size, collected in brushes.
Raspberry fruits have the shape of a truncated cone. The berries are large, reaching 2.4-3 cm in length, weighing 5-7 g (with proper care, specimens weighing 10-13 g can be found).
The fruits of the Sokolitsa raspberry are juicy, fleshy, taste sweet, and have a thick aroma. When consumed, the drupe is practically not felt. The commercial characteristics of the berries are high. When removed from the bush they do not crumble. They ripen together; when grown on an industrial scale, mechanized berry picking is practiced.
Bush
The bush of the Polish variety has medium branching. The height of the Sokolitsa raspberry shoots reaches 1.7-2 m. The branches have a small number of sharp thorns, colored brown. They are located on the top of the shoots.
The leaves are bright green in color and small in size. Less common is foliage with a reddish tint. The leaf blades are oval-shaped, highly corrugated. They have whitish pubescence on the back side.
Characteristics of Sokolitsa raspberry
Sokolitsa begins to bear fruit on shoots of the second year of life. The variety tolerates prolonged absence of precipitation and high temperatures, but excess moisture leads to rotting of the root system. Overwatering can cause the death of the bush.
Ripening time and yield of Sokolitsa raspberries
Since Sokolitsa tolerates transportation well, it is grown on an industrial scale in Poland. The yield per hectare is 17-20 tons, per bush - 5-7 kg. According to the ripening period, the variety is classified as mid-early. In the southern regions, harvesting begins in the first ten days of June.
In the central, western regions and central Russia, residents feast on the first berries at the end of June or early July
In a greenhouse, raspberries produce an earlier harvest. When grown indoors, fruit harvesting begins three weeks earlier.
Frost resistance
Raspberry Sokolitsa has average frost resistance. In Russia, with the onset of persistent cold weather, it is recommended to cover the bushes.
Disease resistance
The variety has not yet been studied much, but has already shown that it has good immunity to diseases and pests. The only disease that affects Sokolitsa is raspberry and blackberry rust.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners have been cultivating Sokolitsa raspberries for a short time, but have already managed to draw conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the variety.
If agricultural cultivation techniques are followed, Sokolitsa berries turn out to be very large
Pros:
- versatility;
- high productivity;
- disease resistance;
- transportability;
- excellent taste;
- sufficient frost resistance and drought resistance;
- uniform ripening.
Minuses:
- autumn appearance of remontance on shoots;
- low resistance to rust;
- a large amount of shoots come from the roots;
- the need to install trellises.
Features of growing Sokolitsa raspberries
It is recommended to tie Sokolitsa raspberry shoots to a support. This will be a good preventive measure for the development of fungal diseases, will protect the branches from lodging under the weight of the harvest, will prevent them from becoming tangled with each other, and will make harvesting easier.
Planting raspberries Sokolitsa
To plant raspberries, choose a sunny area protected from draft winds. Sokolitsa prefers fertile soils.The variety is planted in the fall, when the leaves fall. In areas with cold climates, agronomists recommend planting in the spring.
The height of seedlings should not exceed 35 cm. Per 1 m2 no more than 4-5 sprouts are planted. Planting is carried out in holes or grooves. Their depth should be at least 20-25 cm. Organic or mineral fertilizers are placed at the bottom of the trench. After planting, the soil is compacted, the seedlings are watered, and the soil is mulched.
Pinching the tops will help ensure the growth of fruiting branches.
Sokolitsa raspberry care
If the summer is rainy, it is necessary to remove the mulch layer. Moisture will evaporate better, and the likelihood of root rot will decrease.
The technology for pruning Sokolitsa is no different from ordinary raspberries. In the fall, two-year-old branches are removed, and in the spring, sanitary pruning is carried out: frozen, diseased and broken shoots are discarded.
The young growth is left, not forgetting to thin out. Too thick raspberries are a breeding ground for fungal infections.
During the growing season, Sokolitsa is fed three times:
- At the beginning of spring, raspberries need nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Of the mineral compounds, urea is suitable. Organic fertilizers include bird droppings or mullein, previously diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 and 1:10, respectively.
- During the period of flowering and fruit set, complex fertilizers are applied.
- After harvesting, in order to prepare the bushes for winter and lay the foundation for the next year, the plants are fed with phosphorus fertilizers.
To protect the roots from freezing in winter, mulch the soil around the bushes in the fall. The shoots are removed from the supports, bent to the ground and covered with agrofibre.
Reproduction
Raspberries of the Sokolitsa variety produce a sufficient number of side shoots.Therefore, gardeners do not have problems with reproduction. Young shoots are transplanted into prepared holes.
If seedlings are purchased from an online store, it is recommended to place the roots in a solution of a growth stimulator before planting them in the ground. This will increase the chance of the plant quickly adapting to a new location.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Violation of agricultural practices for raspberry cultivation leads to the appearance of pests and diseases
To protect plants and achieve high yields, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner:
- remove affected and broken shoots;
- thin out young shoots and old branches;
- pull out weeds;
- dig up the soil in spring or autumn;
- Before flowering and after harvesting, treat the shrub with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
If Sokolitsa has been attacked by pests, it is recommended to combat them using insecticides that are safe for humans (Aktara, Decis).
Conclusion
Malina Sokolitsa has all the qualities that make her a welcome guest at a summer cottage. High yield, mid-early ripening and disease resistance make the variety stand out from its peers.
Reviews from gardeners about Sokolitsa raspberries
