The description of the Ruby Giant raspberry variety says that this is a remontant variety that bears fruit twice a season, for which it is valued by gardeners. Let's consider the characteristics of the variety, the rules of planting and care, watering and feeding, pruning and preparation for winter. How to propagate raspberries, what diseases to protect from, when to harvest the berries and how to store them.
Description and characteristics of raspberries Ruby giant
The variety was developed from a variety called Patricia and has much in common with it.Like all remontant varieties, the berries of the Ruby Giant ripen on the shoots of the previous and current year. Fruits from July to September.
This is a tall plant, thornless shoots reach 1.6-1.8 m, their tops can tilt down. It is cold-resistant and can tolerate frosts down to -30 degrees. Raspberries have good immunity to diseases; they are not particularly demanding on soil and growing conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The ruby giant has the following advantages:
- resistance to infections;
- duration of harvest;
- productivity and large-fruitedness;
- cold resistance;
- excellent taste and strong aroma;
- transportability of berries.
Disadvantages: demanding on nutrition and care.
Rules for growing and care
Due to its high yield and ability to produce 2 harvests, Ruby Giant raspberries require proper and constant care. Therefore, it is suitable for experienced gardeners who know about the needs of the crop and how to care for it.
Landing
Ruby giant raspberries grow best in sunny and level areas, with moderate moisture and protection from winds. Prefers light, loose, fertilized soils with a neutral reaction.
Planting raspberries looks like this: the roots of the seedling are lowered into the hole just below the root collar, covered with soil, and watered. When the water settles, the root zone is covered with mulch material to prevent drying out and the growth of weeds. Mulch can be made from straw, hay, sawdust, thin wood chips, and fallen pine needles.
Watering and fertilizing
The bush should be watered moderately and evenly so that there are no periods of waterlogging or, conversely, drying out. Raspberries of this variety can be grown under a drip irrigation system, which is convenient because it evenly distributes water; with its help, you can not only water, but also fertilize the crop.
Plants need to be fed several times a season: in early spring, during the bud phase and when the berries reach their size, but do not yet begin to fill. Manure infusions and herbal infusions, ash solution, and mineral fertilizers for fruit and berry crops are used as fertilizers.
Trimming Features
The first harvest of raspberries comes from the shoots that grew last year, the second - from the green shoots of the current year. After fruiting, 2-year-old shoots are cut out at the root. In order for the next ones to begin to grow, the bushes need nutrients, so they should be fed.
The second pruning scheme: cut out all the shoots in the fall and get only one harvest from those that will grow in the next season.It will turn out to be more abundant than if it forms on shoots of different ages.
Preparing for winter
In cold regions, raspberries must be covered for the winter. To do this, fill the soil near the roots with any suitable mulch to completely cover the ground. If the winter is expected to be cold, you need to cover the shoots with agrofibre.
Reproduction
Remontant raspberries are propagated by layering - shoots are buried near the mother bush in the summer. Roots appear on them until autumn. They are dug up and transplanted to new beds. The raspberries are covered with mulch.
Diseases and pests
Raspberries can be susceptible to infectious fungal diseases that spoil not only the leaves, but also the fruits, reducing the yield. After the formation of the ovary, preventive spraying with fungicidal preparations should be carried out. If pests appear, it is worth using insecticides, if possible, non-aggressive biological ones, so that toxic substances do not get into the berries.
Harvesting and storage
The fruits of the Ruby Giant variety are harvested after full ripeness. They are quite dense and can withstand transportation and short-term storage in a cold, dry place. Store raspberries in food containers in the refrigerator. It must be dry, clean and undamaged. Substandard items must be processed within 24 hours.
The Ruby Giant makes excellent homemade preparations - preserves, jams, compotes. The berries are tasty when eaten fresh, but they don’t stay fresh for long; after picking, they need to be eaten as quickly as possible.
The Ruby Giant variety lives up to its name - the red berries are really large, and do not shrink over time. The plants are cold-resistant and rarely get sick. For homestead farming, raspberries of this variety will be a good purchase.Several mature bushes will be able to provide the whole family with delicious aromatic products for the whole year, until the next harvest.
