Raspberry Indian Summer

It is very difficult to find a person who would not like raspberries. Delicate aroma, delicate taste, attractive appearance - all this refers to the fruits of this culture. Especially interesting are the remontant varieties of raspberries, which bear fruit twice. One of these varieties is Indian Summer.

Repaired raspberry varieties of domestic selection began to appear about 50 years ago. Indian Summer was one of the first. This variety was bred by Ivan Vasilyevich Kazakov, and it happened on the basis of the All-Russian Institute of Selection and Technology of Horticulture and Nursery. Two other varieties were used for breeding: September and Novost Kuzmina. Indian Summer was entered into the state register in 1995.

Raspberries of the described variety have compact, medium-sized and slightly spreading bushes, reaching a height of 100-150 centimeters. Shoots are erect, branching rather strongly. Young specimens have a pink tint, and those that are already 2 years old are brown. All shoots are covered with a light waxy bloom.

The leaves of Indian Summer are medium, almost flat, green. They resemble a triangle in shape. The leaf plate is smooth, but there are almost always small wrinkles. As for the thorns, they are rather prickly and tough. Thin and straight thorns of light purple color are located along the entire length of the shoot.

Indian Summer is considered a late ripening variety. If the variety is grown as an annual, then the first fruits can be expected at the end of August. Fruiting will continue until the first significant drops in temperature. Biennial specimens bear fruit twice a season. The first crop is harvested at the end of June, the second - from the end of August until frost.

It is possible to grow raspberries Indian summer in the Central, Central Black Earth, North Caucasian regions. The highest yields are noted in the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea, Dagestan. The northern regions are also suitable for growing crops, but here you should expect slightly lower yields.

Indian Summer won the love of gardeners precisely with its high yield. The bushes of the culture are literally dotted with berries. From a bush, you can collect from 1 to 1.5 kg of berries, and from a hectare - up to 4-5 tons. The collected berries lie well, do not lose their appearance. They can be transported over long distances.

Raspberry fruits Indian summer have a bright red color and rounded-conical shape. They are located almost along the entire length of the shoot. The berries are slightly elongated at the edges, the size is medium. Each fruit weighs 2 to 3 grams.

The berries have a sweet and sour taste, very pleasant. The pulp is red, juicy, dense, has a delicate structure. The aroma is delicate, raspberry, estimated at 4 points. The purpose of the berries is universal: they can be used fresh, as well as processed into blanks and compotes. Frozen fruits do not lose their flavor. 100 grams of fruit contains about 30 mg of vitamin C.

Growing raspberries of this variety begins with the correct selection of seedlings. Experts recommend buying biennial samples that are in a container. Such specimens quickly take root in a new place. When planting, it is important to ensure that the root collar is flush with the ground. The root area should be covered with straw. Shoots after planting are pruned so that they are equal to 40 centimeters.

For Indian summer, loamy or sandy loamy soils are chosen. The acidity of the soil should be neutral. You should not plant a crop where tomatoes and potatoes previously grew. Zucchini and cucumbers will be good predecessors. Raspberries also grow well next to apple trees and currants. The site must be on level ground, lowlands and upper platforms are not suitable. It is important that there is a lot of sun.

If the seedlings have an open root system, then it is better to plant them in the fall, about a month before the soil freezes. Instances purchased in containers can be planted at any time. Before planting, prepare the site, cleaning it from old roots and plant debris. 20 days before planting, 20 kilograms of humus, 50 grams of superphosphate and 300 g of wood ash are introduced. When planting between plants, a distance of 0.7-1 meter is observed, and between rows - up to 2.5 m.

The type of pruning will depend on how many times the grower plans to harvest. In annual specimens, all shoots are cut off at ground level. They do this at the end of October. If you want to harvest, two-year-old shoots are removed twice, which have already borne fruit this season. Annuals will have to be shortened by 15 centimeters.

In the spring, rejuvenating pruning is mandatory, removing dry and non-viable shoots. Excess stems are cut out, leaving 5-6 vigorous shoots on the bush. Root offspring will also need to be removed.

When caring for Indian Summer raspberries, it is important to be responsible for watering. Excess or deficiency should not be allowed. Water the culture once a week, each bush takes a bucket of water (10 l). It is best to irrigate in grooves or by sprinkling. The second method is most suitable for the heat. On large plantations, drip irrigation is appropriate. After supplying water, the earth is loosened 7 centimeters deep.

Top dressing will also be required. In the spring, it is advisable to add nitrogen, you can use organic matter, for example, chicken manure or mullein. Closer to mid-July, nitroammophoska will give a good effect, and after fruiting, it is worth fertilizing the culture with superphosphate and potassium salt. In addition, raspberries respond very well to fertilizers such as Yagodka, Kemira, and Zdraven.

When fruiting has ended, two-year shoots are cut from the Indian Summer raspberry. If there has been no rain for a long time, high-quality watering is carried out (20 liters under a bush). The frost resistance of the culture is very high, therefore, in the presence of snow, it can not be covered. But the root zone should be necessarily mulched. Annual shoots are fixed on wire arcs and insulated with agrofibre.

There are several ways to propagate Indian Summer.

• Cuttings (green). This method is carried out in June by cutting off 5 cm shoots underground and rooting them in plastic cups. Shoots are ventilated, watered, fertilized. In the fall, they can be planted in a permanent place.

• Cutting (root). When the season is over, the roots must be dug up and divided into 10 cm pieces. Pieces are planted in their designated place, watered and mulched. Cover with spruce branches on top. In the spring, the shelter is removed, and the transplant is carried out in the fall.

• Division of the bush. The raspberry bush is removed from the ground, divided into 5 parts, leaving roots and shoots. The stems are cut to 45 centimeters. The resulting parts are planted in a permanent place.