Ezhemalina is a unique plant, the popularity of which has only increased recently. This culture is considered very unpretentious. It has decorative properties and produces tasty and healthy fruits. Essentially, this plant has the benefits of blackberries and raspberries. At the same time, many summer residents are interested in a description of the Loganberry raspberry variety, as well as planting and caring for the plant.
Description and history of breeding
The Loganberry variety was obtained back in 1889 in the USA.Its author is considered to be Judge James Harvey Logan, who was fond of breeding work. One day he planted Red Antwerp raspberries and Auginbaug blackberries nearby. As a result of cross-pollination of plants, fruits appeared, from the seed material of which it was possible to obtain bushes with attractive berries of a rich color. This new variety was called "Logan berry", or Loganberry.
Appearance
This crop is characterized by the properties of both raspberries and blackberries. The plant has very beautiful and fragrant fruits. In general, the bush has a very aesthetic appearance. Therefore, it is used not only as a fruit crop, but also for decorating a garden plot.
Ezhemalina of this variety does not have thorns. It is characterized by raspberry-red berries, which are distinguished by their large size and elongated shape. The length of the fruits reaches 4-6 centimeters. The shoots of the plant grow up to 2 meters. The shrub has a climbing structure, so it needs to be tied to a support. For the winter, it is recommended to bend the shoots to the ground and cover them.
Ripening time
Inflorescences on the bushes form in June. In this case, the flowering of the plant lasts 1.5 months. The structure of the inflorescences includes 15-20 flowers. During this period, the bushes look especially decorative. Fruit ripening occurs at the end of summer. Moreover, this stage continues until the onset of cold weather. This raspberry variety is considered mid-late.
At first the crop bears large fruits.They reach a length of 6 centimeters and weigh 12 grams. Gradually the berries decrease in size. The long period of fruiting allows you not only to eat fresh raspberry, but also to make preparations from it. It is important to take into account that in the conditions of the middle zone the berries do not have time to fully ripen.
Taste of the fruit
The ripe fruits of the plant are distinguished by their juicy crimson color and cone-shaped shape. The average size of the berries is 4 centimeters and their weight is 8 grams. However, at the initial stage of fruiting it is possible to obtain larger specimens.
Raspberries are characterized by a sweet taste and a pronounced raspberry aroma. The fruits have a very attractive appearance. They can be eaten fresh or used to make jam, juice, jelly, and compotes. The product goes well with other berries and fruits. An indisputable advantage of the variety is that the berries do not crumble or crack.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of Loganberry raspberries include the following:
- high yield parameters;
- pleasant taste and excellent presentation of the fruit;
- low maintenance requirements;
- absence of thorns on branches;
- resistance to diseases and parasites;
- the ability to use the plant in landscape design.
At the same time, culture also has some disadvantages. The main disadvantages of the plant include the following:
- the need for garter and bush formation;
- low resistance to frost.
Landing requirements
The timing of planting Loganberry raspberries should be chosen taking into account the climatic characteristics of the region. In the central regions of Russia, it is recommended to plant the crop in mid-autumn. In the south, planting work can be carried out until the end of October.In this case, the plant will have enough time to adapt to new conditions and prepare for winter.
You can also plant raspberries in the spring. However, in this case, the crop must be planted before the juices begin to flow, before the buds open. Some gardeners plant the crop even in summer. However, this should only be done in cloudy or rainy weather.
In order for the plant to take root well in a new place, it is important to use high-quality planting material. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when choosing seedlings. It is important to ensure that their branches and roots are not affected by diseases and pests.
Before planting, you need to pay attention to the preparation of seedlings. Immediately after purchase, their root system is soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tablespoon of the substance for 2 liters of water. This composition will help destroy all pathogenic microorganisms. It is allowed to keep the seedling in a solution of potassium permanganate for no more than an hour. Otherwise, there is a high probability of damage to the protective bark on the root system.
Then the culture should be soaked in the Kornevin solution. To do this, you need to take 30 grams of the product per 5 liters of water. The duration of this procedure is 2 hours. The use of such a drug helps to enhance the development of culture. After the specified time, the seedling can be moved into open ground.
Selecting a location
Ezhemalina requires loose and fertile soil. It should be slightly damp.However, damp and swampy areas are not suitable, since the plant tolerates dry soil better than stagnant water. You also need to make sure that the groundwater is not too high.
When choosing a place to plant raspberries, you should give preference to areas protected from cold winds. Therefore, there should be buildings or tall trees near the bush.
Landing
For planting to be successful, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- If there are small leaves on the seedlings, planting work should be carried out extremely carefully so as not to disturb the earthen ball. Any damage will negatively affect the survival rate of young plants.
- When choosing a planting scheme, you need to maintain an interval of 70-100 centimeters. The distance between rows should be 1.5-2 meters.
- The size of the recesses for planting should be 40x40 centimeters. The soil from the holes must be mixed with humus.
- To plant the plant, you need to place the raspberry seedlings in the recesses and carefully straighten the root shoots. Then it is recommended to add the prepared substrate and carefully compact the soil. In this case, it is important to ensure that the root collar is placed at the same level with the ground surface.
- Water the plant with plenty of settled water.
Further care
Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, some rules of agricultural technology still need to be followed. This will help to obtain a strong crop and achieve high yields. It is recommended to water the plant weekly. Each bush requires 20 liters of warm water. In regions with hot climates, the volume of water is increased to 30 liters.
After watering, you need to loosen the top layer of soil. This will prevent the formation of a crust on the surface of the earth and provide the roots with the right amount of air.Weeds should be removed as necessary. This will reliably protect the plant from pests.
Timely application of fertilizers is of great importance. In spring, it is recommended to use nitrogen fertilizers, which ensure the growth of green mass. At the moment the first flower stalks appear, it is necessary to add an infusion of humus. To prepare it, 5 kilograms of the substance must be mixed with 10 liters of water.
During fruit formation, it is recommended to feed the raspberries with wood ash or potassium preparations. In the fall, after harvesting, you need to apply superphosphate. This substance promotes root growth.
In spring and autumn, Ezhmalina needs pruning. In March, after the snow melts, it is necessary to remove frost-damaged shoots, and in the fall, to get rid of dry and diseased branches. Forming a bush involves removing the lower shoots that are tightly adjacent to the ground. If this procedure is not carried out, there is a risk of rotting processes developing, which increases the number of pathogens.
An important step in caring for raspberries is tying them up. To do this, you need to drive 2 stakes on both sides of the bush and pull ropes between them. This is done at a height of 70 centimeters from the surface of the earth. It is necessary to tie long shoots bent to the ground to the ropes. This should be done with thick threads or fabric tapes.
Preparing for winter
Ezhemalina Loganberry is characterized by low resistance to frost. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare the bushes for winter every year. To do this, in September the plant needs to be watered with a superphosphate solution. To prepare it, you need to take 30 grams of fertilizer per 5 liters of water. This will help form a protective barrier against frost on the soil surface.
In the central regions, the raspberries need to be covered. To do this, it is recommended to bend the bush branches to the ground and insulate the plant with film. It is necessary to make small holes in it so as not to provoke the development of fungi.
Pest Control
Sometimes the Loganberry raspberry encounters diseases and parasites. Among the pathologies it is worth highlighting the following:
- powdery mildew;
- anthracnose;
- verticillium wilt.
To combat powdery mildew, it is recommended to use soda ash. When the first signs of pathology are detected, you need to water the bushes with a solution of this substance. To do this, you need to mix 100 grams of the product with 10 liters of water.
To cope with verticillium wilt, it is worth using a solution of copper sulfate. To prepare it, it is recommended to take 20 grams of the drug per 10 liters of water. Bordeaux mixture helps cure anthracnose. To obtain a working solution, you should take 100 grams of the product per 5 liters of water. It is recommended to spray plants twice a month.
Of the parasites, this variety of raspberry is more susceptible to raspberry beetles and weevils. To cope with parasites, you can use whey or ammonia.
Reproduction
The hybrid is recommended to be propagated by cuttings. To do this, in August you need to cut off the upper parts of the shoots that have stopped bearing fruit. Their size should be 25 centimeters. The branches should be placed in a container with water for 2 weeks. After which young roots will appear on the cuttings.
It is recommended to plant seedlings in loose prepared soil, deepening them by 20 centimeters. Before the arrival of cold weather, cuttings need to be insulated. In the spring you need to dig them up and evaluate the appearance of the roots. Strong seedlings can be moved to a permanent site.
Loganberry Ezhemalina is a fairly popular crop that bears tasty and large fruits. To get a good harvest, the plant needs to be properly cared for.
