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Raspberry is a berry plant with which mankind has been familiar since ancient times. Probably, there is no such garden or vegetable garden on the territory of Russia, wherever this berry, as tasty as healthy, grows. But, how little gardeners still know about her.
Repair raspberry, with its appearance first stirred up all enthusiastic gardeners. This culture began to enjoy immense popularity so much that everyone was ready to forget about ordinary raspberries. But everything turned out to be not as simple as it seemed at first, and as it was written in enthusiastic advertising brochures. Many gardeners, who planted it on their plots and strictly followed the recommendations, did not receive those giant harvests that were promised to them. For some, disappointment reached such a level that they even uprooted all remontant raspberry varieties.
But, as always, the truth is somewhere in the middle, and remontant raspberries can, under certain conditions, really give a crop that exceeds the yields of conventional raspberry varieties.
So, first things first.
What is remontant raspberry
Many novice gardeners, when faced with it for the first time, do not understand very well what it means.
Of course, if you imagine that instead of the usual two or three weeks of fruiting traditional varieties of raspberries, raspberries appear, which can bear fruit all summer and even all autumn, then the picture turns out to be very tempting. It is not surprising that a large number of people, not having thoroughly figured out what is the remontability of raspberries, hastened to acquire these varieties. And soon enough, disappointed, she completely rejected the novelty, not wanting to see anything outstanding in it.
In fact, remontant raspberries are raspberries, which are distinguished by their ability to bear fruit on both annual and two-year shoots.
A bit of history
Despite the fact that in Russia remontant varieties have been officially grown only for the last 20-30 years, they have been known for a long time. More than 200 years ago, they were first described raspberry varieties, which differed in that at the end of summer, individual flowers appeared on their annual shoots, which then turned into berries. Even in Russia, in the southern regions, there were some representatives of such raspberry plants. And Michurin at one time even bred a separate variety called "Progress", which was distinguished by the fact that under favorable conditions, with a one-year increment, it gave a small harvest of berries in the fall.
But until the 70s of the last century, no one in Russia was involved in breeding remontant varieties of raspberries. Professor Kazakov made a significant contribution to the development of new remontant varieties.
Features of the remontant raspberry
In spring, with the onset of warm days, new annual shoots grow from the underground part of the remontant raspberry bushes. Already in summer they bloom, and since August, many berries are formed on them. From one raspberry bush, depending on the variety, you can collect from 1.5 to 3.5 kg of berries. With the onset of winter, the entire upper part of the fruiting shoots dies off.But the rest of it overwinters safely and the next year in the summer, fruit branches are formed on it, from which you can harvest the first crop.
At the same time, the so-called second crop is also formed on new shoots by autumn. It is due to the formation of two harvests, spaced in time, on shoots of different ages, and there is a feeling of constant fruiting of remontant raspberries from July to frost. But this is only in theory. In practice, many gardeners note that the berries of the first harvest are quite small and somewhat dry, and the second harvest is formed so late that for most regions of Russia it simply does not have time to ripen.
Therefore, it was recommended to grow remontant raspberries, practically, as an annual crop. That is, in late autumn, all shoots are cut completely at ground level. And in the spring, when young shoots are formed again, they give an earlier (from the beginning of August) and plentiful harvest. In the fall, all shoots are cut again at the root. Thus, instead of two waves of fruiting, one remains, but abundant and guaranteed.
With this method of growing raspberries, it will not be possible to feast on it throughout the summer and autumn, but a big plus is the fact that when pruning shoots for the winter, numerous pests and sources of infection for raspberries are removed along with them. In addition, due to the shift in ripening of berries to autumn, all phases of raspberry development are shifted in time and they cease to coincide with the main phases of activity of the main raspberry pests... Therefore, remontant raspberries practically do not get sick and damage from insects can rarely be found in them.
True, for the southern regions of Russia, the attractiveness of prolonged fruiting periods of remontant raspberries remains relevant. Indeed, in the south, even the latest raspberry harvests, as a rule, have time to ripen. In addition, remontant varieties of raspberries are distinguished by increased frost resistance, which allows the berries to remain intact on the bush at the onset of small short-term frosts and to develop further at the onset of warm fine days.
Therefore, in the southern regions of Russia, remontant raspberries are grown differently:
- In the fall, raspberries are not trimmed at all.
- In the spring, all frail and feeble shoots are removed from the shoots that have appeared, so that in the end there are from three to six strong new shoots.
- In May - early June, when shoots grow up to about one meter in height, their tops are pinched.
- As a result, they are heavily overgrown with new fruit branches, from which, starting in September, it is already possible to harvest.
- By this time, the shoots of the last year have already managed to give up their berries and are completely cut out so as not to deprive the young shoots of nutrition. Almost continuous fruiting results.
The above two ways of growing remontant raspberries are illustrated in the photo below.
Of the features of remontant raspberries, it is necessary to take into account the fact that, due to the heavy load, it is somewhat more demanding on growing conditions. She needs the lightest and warmest place on the site. In addition, she needs constant and abundant feeding and watering. Without creating these conditions, obtaining two harvests becomes impossible.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that for the season the total number of berries with two harvests will remain the same as with one. It's just that the crop is split in two. Therefore, each gardener for himself, based on his climatic conditions, decides which method of growing and pruning remontant raspberries to him.
Differences between remontant raspberries and ordinary raspberries
The main question that torments every novice gardener who has little experience in growing raspberries is how to distinguish remontant raspberries from ordinary ones. Of course, outwardly, for example, their seedlings are practically no different. After all, remontant raspberries are not some special wonder of the world.This is a common raspberry, in which certain properties have been strengthened and strengthened by selection. These properties can serve as signs of difference.
So, summing up the above, you can consider how remontant varieties of raspberries differ from ordinary ones:
- Repaired raspberries bear fruit twice a year, if not cut, and common raspberries only once.
- The total yield of remontant raspberries, even if cut and left with one harvest, is greater than that of ordinary raspberries. This can be seen quite clearly in the photo.
- With autumn pruning, the only crop of remontant raspberries ripens closer to autumn, and common raspberries bear fruit in June-July.
- The total fruiting period even with a single harvest for remontant raspberries is about two months under favorable weather conditions, and for ordinary raspberries only 2-3 weeks.
- In the remontant raspberry, flowers and fruits are located more along the entire stem, including in the lower axils of the leaves, while in the common raspberry, they can be found only at the ends of the shoots. See the photo below.
- Due to the ability of flowers of remontant raspberry to self-pollinate, it does not need replanting of other varieties for pollination.
- Repaired raspberries, according to some experts, differ from the common variety in the taste of berries. In remontant raspberries, it is deeper and more intense, but this is a moot point, since taste characteristics are a very delicate matter.
- Repaired raspberries are much more demanding on planting and growing conditions than ordinary ones.
Both remontant and common raspberries deserve to grow in your garden. Each of these varieties has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is better if they grow together, and then you can enjoy the taste of raspberry berries throughout the warm season.
