Raspberries are one of the people's favorite berries. Breeders have developed many varieties of this berry. Let's consider the description of the Indian Summer raspberry variety, the most important advantages and imperfections, features of cultivation on private farms, planting young seedlings and further care, harvesting ripened fruits and storing the crop. What diseases can raspberries suffer from, their treatment and prevention of spread.
- Description and characteristics of Indian Summer raspberries
- Pros and cons of the variety
- Features of growing a bush
- Dates and place
- Preparation of seedlings
- Planting scheme and process
- Further care
- Watering and fertilizing the plant
- Reproduction
- Loosening
- Trimming
- Preparing for winter
- Diseases, pests and prevention against them
- Collection and storage
Description and characteristics of Indian Summer raspberries
The ancestors of the Indian Summer variety were Kostinbrodskaya and Novost Kuzmina. Zoned for the regions of the North-Western, North Caucasus, Central regions. It is not suitable for planting in the southern regions, as it is not drought-resistant and cannot withstand heat. It is also not recommended to grow this variety in the northern regions.
Indian Summer belongs to the remontant varieties; raspberry bushes produce 2 harvests per season: the 1st in June-mid-July and the 2nd in September-mid-October. When growing a crop of raspberry fruits on 1-year-old stems, it is harvested once - in August, but the volume will be greater than in the first case. On average, 1-3 kg of berries are harvested from each bush of this variety of raspberry.
The berries are cone-shaped, truncated, 2.5-3.5 g. Sweet and sour, with an unexpressed aroma, juicy. The variety is frost-resistant; under cover it can withstand severe frosts without damage.
Pros and cons of the variety
Features of growing a bush
In order for raspberry seedlings to take root well and produce a harvest, you need to choose a suitable place for them and plant them correctly. Let's look at this in more detail.
Dates and place
Raspberries of this variety are planted in the southern part of the garden, where there are no powerful winds, close to buildings or fences that will obscure them. Seedlings are planted in autumn and spring, preferably in autumn. The right time is the end of September, the first half of next month.
Preparation of seedlings
The roots of the bushes are soaked in a solution of a growth stimulator for 1 day, then the ends are cut off. The stems are also trimmed, leaving a few buds. While the seedlings are being processed, planting holes are prepared. Dig them 0.5 m wide and deep, fill them with a mixture of humus, peat and ash.
Planting scheme and process
Between Indian Summer seedlings, make a distance of 1-1.5 m wide, between adjacent rows - 2 m. Plant roots are lowered into the prepared holes, watered and sprinkled with earth. Lightly compact and mulch with a layer of leaves, straw, and hay.
Further care
After planting, raspberries require continuous care. The work package includes watering, fertilizing, and pruning.
Watering and fertilizing the plant
In the first season, fertilizers are not applied. In the spring of next year, 1 bucket of humus and 2 kg of ash are poured under each bush. Everything is mixed with soil. After collecting all the fruits, the bushes are fed with mineral fertilizers: 15 g of saltpeter, 40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate are added. Raspberries are watered at such a frequency that the soil remains moist. In hot weather and drought, be sure to water. You need to pour at least a bucket of water onto each bush.
Reproduction
Indian summer raspberries are propagated by shoots coming from the roots in spring or autumn. Replant after digging, water until they take root.
Loosening
If the soil is not covered with mulch, you need to loosen it after each watering. Depth – 5 cm, so as not to touch the roots.
Trimming
If raspberries are grown on the farm as 1-year-old ones, then in the fall the shoots are cut out at the root. If you need to get 2 harvests, then among the ripened shoots, choose the strongest ones in the amount of 5-6 pieces, the rest are removed. In the summer they are cut out after picking the berries; the young ones from the current year remain on the bush.
Preparing for winter
After pruning, the area with the bushes is covered with a layer of mulch 10-15 cm thick. All plant debris, stems and leaves are burned to prevent the spread of diseases. If the shoots are left to overwinter, in winter, during severe frosts, you need to cover them with snow. In spring, the mulch is removed and a new layer is laid.
Diseases, pests and prevention against them
Despite the general resistance to fungi, raspberries can suffer from mosaic, powdery mildew, and spotting. This often happens in cold and damp weather. Therefore, it is worth carrying out preventive spraying against these diseases even before the infection develops. Among the pests, bushes can be affected by aphids, raspberry beetles and spider mites.
Control measures include spraying with insecticide solutions when pests are detected until they disappear completely.
Collection and storage
The variety bears fruit 1 or 2 times a season. The berries are harvested after full ripening. Productivity is within 1-3 kg per bush. They are not stored for a long time, so you should try to quickly process, eat or sell them. The fruits make excellent homemade preparations.
Indian summer is a remontant variety recommended for planting in regions with a temperate climate. Resistant to diseases, produces 2 harvests per season. You can harvest the fruits in mid-autumn; during the autumn rains they do not lose their quality and shape.Suitable for eating fresh and also for canning.
