- Authors: Bred by G. D. Aleksandrova at the Leningrad Fruit and Vegetable Experimental Station
- Berry color: red
- Taste: good, harmonious
- Ripening period: average
- Berry weight, g: 3-4 g, up to 8 g
- Yield: 900 kg / ha
- Frost resistance: good
- Yield rate: high
- Appeared when crossing: originated from the Pride of Russia variety
- Transportability: Yes
Among the variety of raspberry species, many gardeners give their preference to domestic seedlings. One of these favorites is the Orbita raspberry. In this article, we will consider the characteristics of the culture, yield, as well as methods of reproduction.
Breeding history of the variety
Raspberry Orbita was bred by the Russian breeder G. D. Alexandrova at the Leningrad fruit and vegetable experimental station. The main task was to develop a variety that could grow in the northwestern part of Russia.
Description of the variety
Raspberry Orbita has a high yield, but belongs to a non-renovated species. The bushes are compact, medium in size. Shoots are erect, do not creep, up to 2 m in height. The color of the stems is purple, there are thorns throughout the height, as well as a pronounced plaque and lack of pubescence.
The variety is universal, it tolerates rainy seasons well.
Ripening terms
Since the variety is not repaired, raspberries yield a crop only once a season, namely in July or early August.
Yield
This crop has a stable yield. Up to 900 kg of berries are harvested from one hectare.
Berries and their taste
The weight of one fruit is from 3-4 to 8 g. The color of the berries is red, large in shape, broadly conical. The first ripe fruits can weigh up to 18 g. The taste of the berries is pleasant, well-pronounced, sweet.
Growing features
The Orbita variety does not need any special care. All care comes down to the fact that it is necessary to water and feed the plant on time, as well as cut it off.
Site selection and soil preparation
Site selection is very important for the harvest. Raspberries grow well in places where dill or beets, as well as legumes and cereals, previously grew.
Raspberries should not be adjacent to potatoes or tomatoes, peppers or strawberries. They all have the same pests.
Before planting seedlings, you need to prepare a raspberry tree: dig up the ground with fertilizers and shed the soil well. All this must be done in about two weeks so that the soil is saturated with useful minerals.
It is worth digging holes 50 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter. Humus or compost with wood ash is placed at the bottom of the hole. A seedling is lowered, gently sprinkled with earth around the roots, compacted. Then the bushes are spilled abundantly with water. It is necessary to plant from north to south.
It is advisable to maintain the distance between the bushes of 60 cm, but it is better to leave 1.5-2 m between the rows.
Pruning
Raspberry Orbita produces a lot of growth every year, which should be removed. If you leave a lot of new seedlings, then the yield will drop. Also, overgrowth creates good conditions for pests.
Prune raspberries after harvest or before the first frost and in early spring to remove dry branches.
The stems develop for an average of two years. The first year they grow, in the second they bear fruit, and then they die off. It is these branches that should be removed immediately after harvest so that replacement shoots begin to form.
On average, 7 large and healthy vines should be left in one bush.
Watering and feeding
This culture is very fond of moist soil. And this means that the rains are not terrible for her. But a severe, long-term drought without watering can adversely affect the harvest.
On large plantations, they think over a drip irrigation system.
It is worth remembering that the Orbita variety should not be mulched, especially during the rainy season, since the mulch will retain moisture twice as much, and this can lead to rotting of the roots.
Top dressing must be carried out during the growing season. In the spring, during the flowering period, it is worth using fertilizer with a high nitrogen content and mineral complexes. And in the fall, feed with fluorine.
Frost resistance and preparation for winter
Since raspberries were bred specifically for the northwestern regions, they have a fairly high frost tolerance. If it's winter with heavy rainfall, then snow is an ideal shelter. But some gardeners still harbor young shoots in the first year.
If seedlings are planted in the fall, then at the first snow it is worth tamping the stems with them so that the vine does not break under the pressure of the snow.
Unfortunately, raspberries, like other plants, do not bypass various diseases and pests. Only armed with the knowledge and the necessary means for this, you can cope with such troubles. To help the plant, it is very important to be able to recognize the disease in time and begin timely treatment.
Reproduction
Raspberries reproduce in three ways.
- Young growth. The strongest and most powerful vines are selected. They are separated from the bush, carefully dug in together with the ground and moved into the holes allotted in advance.
- Division of the bush. Fruiting branches are selected that are not damaged by diseases or pests.Divide the bush, while the resulting seedlings should have at least 3-4 branches. After transplanting a new bush, they will begin to grow and by the end of the season will give the first fruits. This method is best done in the spring.
- Root cuttings. It is necessary to dig out a thick root, cut it into pieces 20 cm long. The resulting cuttings should have 2-3 buds. The cuttings should be buried about 10 cm in a container and left in the greenhouse. By autumn, the buds should give stems, and only after that, the cuttings should be planted in the ground.
