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The fruitful breeding work results in a variety of modern raspberry varieties. Among them, the raspberry Solnyshko stands out, the description of the variety, photos and reviews of which testify to the wonderful taste of its fragrant berries.
Raspberry Solnyshko successfully combined the best properties of the old Russian variety “Novost Kuzmina” and the Bulgarian one “Kostinbrodskaya”, on the basis of which it was bred - good winter hardiness, early maturity, resistance to some fungal diseases.
Characteristics of the variety
Solnyshko raspberry bushes form tall, straight shoots with a graceful bend at the top. Hanging with tassels of ruby berries, they are used by many summer residents as a beautiful hedge. Raspberry stems Solnyshko are distinguished by slight thorniness and a noticeable waxy coating, which prevents excessive evaporation of moisture. Young shoots are green in color, and as they grow, they acquire a brownish tint. Not referring to remontant varieties, raspberry Solnyshko demonstrates a fairly high yield - more than 80 c / ha, and up to 1.5 kg can be harvested from one bush.
The description of the variety and reviews classify the Sun raspberry among the best dessert varieties. Its bright, juicy berries are distinguished by:
- delicate sweet and sour taste;
- rich berry aroma;
- rounded conical shape;
- large size - their weight reaches 4.5 g;
- high content of ascorbic acid;
- versatility of purpose - berries can be consumed fresh, processed and frozen;
- good transportability.
Planting raspberries
Raspberry bushes have a shallow root system, which should be considered when choosing a soil. They grow well on light loams. The soil in the upper layer should be fertile enough, with a weak acidity index. To reduce it, you can pre-lime the soil.
Planting time
Bushes can be planted at any time during the growing season. But the preferred planting dates for the Solnyshko raspberry variety depend on the climatic conditions of the region. For the southern regions with long, warm autumn, the optimal time for planting a berry plant will be the second half of September or early October. Saplings of raspberry Solnyshko before the frost start will have time to take root and in spring they will begin to grow together. Spring planting is risky, since this season in the south is usually short and dry, and the buds on the raspberry bushes will bloom before the root system has time to develop. Therefore, young seedlings may simply die.
In colder climates, raspberry bushes planted in the fall may freeze out. Therefore, it is better to transfer the planting to a long spring with high humidity. Before the onset of warmth, the Sun raspberry bushes will have time to take root. It is better to prepare the soil for spring planting in the fall. You can fertilize it naturally by sowing green manure. Before frost, they will have time to rise, and during the winter they will peat and, under the influence of soil microflora, will turn into an excellent organic fertilizer for raspberries. At the same time, you can prepare compost from fallen leaves, plant and food residues.
Site selection
Reviews for raspberries Solnyshko are advised to choose a planting site in the southern part of the site - open to sunlight and protected from cold winds. The light level of the bushes can be increased by arranging the rows of raspberries in a north-south direction.The more sun's heat the berries get, the tastier they will be. To obtain good yields, the raspberry tree should be provided with a thick snow cover in winter. You should not plant Sun raspberries in areas where potatoes or strawberries grew, since they are characterized by the same diseases. But it grows well after currants and chokeberry.
Pothole landing method
The holes for planting raspberries of the Solnyshko variety need to be prepared in 2-3 weeks, adhering to the following recommendations:
- the distance between the holes should be at least 1 m, and the row spacing should be up to 2 m;
- the bottom of the wells must be laid out with a nutrient mixture of rotted manure and superphosphate;
- mix it with garden soil and a little ash.
Applying too much ash can increase the alkalinity of the soil, which is just as harmful to plants as acidity. When planting, the root collar must not be too deep, otherwise the bush may die. The sun should be planted in such a way that, after compaction of the soil, its root collar is flush with the surface of the earth.
Trench way
Many gardeners prefer to plant Sun Raspberry bushes in trenches. Although the trenching method is more time consuming, it has its advantages:
- plantings are more evenly provided with nutrients;
- easier care for raspberries - watering, weeding row spacings, mulching;
- the productivity of the bushes increases.
Approximately 2-3 weeks before planting raspberries, the area is cleared of weeds and mark it with a cord. The width of the trench is usually up to 0.5 m, and the length corresponds to the size of the site. At the ends of the trench, strong supports are fixed, between which a wire is pulled to tie the stems.
Raspberry care
After planting the bushes, they are abundantly watered and mulched with sawdust or straw. In the future, caring for Solnyshko raspberries, according to the description of the variety, consists in the timely organization of watering, dressing, pruning.
Trimming
Raspberries grow very quickly and fill the free space around them, so they need to be regularly trimmed. It allows for the growth of stronger shoots. At the beginning of spring, sanitary pruning of Solnyshko raspberries is carried out, which consists of:
- in the removal of dried and broken shoots;
- freeing the bush from sick and weak branches;
- pruning healthy stems to the first bud.
Raspberry pruning is also intended to regulate the degree of thickening of the bushes. Too many extra shoots only harm the plants, as it reduces the level of illumination of the raspberry tree and the content of nutrients. Therefore, at the beginning of summer, when the raspberry bushes grow a little, a second pruning is carried out, during which up to 10 healthy shoots remain on each. All weak branches are removed. Excess stems should not be dug out - the roots can be damaged, they just need to be carefully trimmed at the base.
After harvesting, the third pruning procedure is carried out, during which the fruit bearing and damaged raspberry shoots are removed.
Organization of watering
Reviews show that the raspberry variety Solnyshko reacts to a lack of moisture with a noticeable decrease in yield, since its root system is located very close to the surface of the earth. However, excess moisture is also detrimental to the bushes:
- berries will lose their aroma and taste;
- the roots will start to rot;
- raspberries will fall off before ripening;
- the degree of hardening will decrease, which is fraught with freezing of the bushes in winter.
The frequency and intensity of the irrigation procedure depends on the local climatic conditions. Most of all, the raspberry Sun needs abundant watering at the initial stage of the formation and ripening of berries. Usually this period falls on the end of May - beginning of June.The most convenient way is to organize drip irrigation of raspberries or regular irrigation into prepared grooves. Furrow irrigation has the advantage of not getting water onto the crown of the bushes. After it, you need to loosen the soil around the plants, while clearing it of weeds. However, loosening should be shallow, otherwise you can damage the roots of raspberries, which are near the surface of the earth.
At the end of summer, after harvesting, watering the Sun raspberries can be stopped. However, in dry years, it must be continued until October, in order to enable the raspberry to prepare for wintering.
Nutrient dressing
As follows from the description, Sun raspberries can give good yields in the same area for up to 10-15 years, if they are regularly fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. When examining the bushes, experienced gardeners, even by their appearance, can determine which microelements are lacking for their nutrition:
- a consequence of phosphorus deficiency will be weak thinned raspberry shoots;
- yellowing leaves indicate a lack of iron or magnesium;
- with a lack of nitrogen, the leaves become smaller and turn yellow, and with an excess of nitrogen, the raspberry bush grows rapidly;
- brown, as if burnt, leaves on raspberries indicate a deficiency of potassium, which is fraught with the danger of winter freezing of bushes.
After spring pruning, the first feeding of Solnyshko raspberries is carried out. To do this, you can prepare a mixture of nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers, mullein and wood ash, which is rich in potassium. Over the summer, raspberries consume a large amount of nutrients for development and fruiting. To maintain yields for the next year, it must be fed before wintering. Autumn top dressing with organic matter has a good effect on the condition of Solnyshko raspberry bushes and their yield. It can be carried out with rotted manure or compost prepared from fallen leaves and plant debris. Liquid chicken manure gives a good effect.
Pest control
Of the insect pests, berry bushes most often affect the raspberry beetle, weevil or spider mite. In the fight against them, digging the soil around the raspberry bushes, the destruction of last year's foliage, and treatment with drugs help. An effective remedy against aphids will be spraying the bushes of the Sun variety with a soapy solution of dry mustard after the buds appear.
The appearance of orange tubercles on raspberry leaves indicates fungal diseases, against which spraying with special preparations will help. Spring treatment of bushes with Bordeaux liquid will prevent the appearance of powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Description of the variety and reviews of raspberries, the Sun is recommended as effective preventive measures against diseases:
- timely destruction of sick and damaged branches, fallen leaves;
- planting green manure plants in the aisles of raspberries;
- proper care - watering and feeding.
Reviews of summer residents
Conclusion
Subject to the simple rules of agricultural technology, the raspberry variety Solnyshko will delight for many years with high yields of fragrant, tasty berries.
