Raspberry Polka

Raspberry Polka is a fairly common variety among gardeners. She is loved for its large, juicy and sweet berries, which you just want to eat.

This variety has appeared recently. It was bred in Poland by a breeder named Jan Danek. In 2003, the bushes of this raspberry variety attracted a standing ovation and good reviews from the audience at an exhibition in Berlin. The variety impressed people so much that it is still very popular and in demand in Russia and other European countries.

The characteristic features of the Polka raspberry is that, with a rather powerful bush, the thorns on it are very small and almost do not prick. The variety has a very strong root system and excellent berries. Due to this, such raspberries are considered exemplary. The bush itself can reach a height of 1.5 meters, but at the same time it looks quite compact. And this raspberry is also capable of ripening even with slight frosts, while the rest of the varieties would have frozen long ago.

This raspberry variety is popular due to its long fruiting period - 3-3.5 months. When many other varieties have already borne fruit, Polka still continues to delight with its ripe harvest. The first fruits ripen in mid-July - mid-August. And they continue to appear almost until the first snow. But most often fruiting ends at the end of September.

This variety can take root in almost any climate. In this regard, the Polka is universal. If the planting site is located in the central or northern strip, then the bushes are planted on the south side, obscuring them with a hedge or outbuildings on the north side. In the southern regions, the conditions have already been created by nature. There, it remains only to make sure that the soil does not dry out.

Raspberry Polka is one of the first in the list in terms of yield. She is called the record holder. The bush bears fruit twice a season. If you follow all the rules, then from a bush you can collect from 2 to 4.5 kg of harvest in one season. Yield can be influenced by planting site, watering and environmental conditions.

The berries are bright red or crimson-red, cone-shaped. This variety of raspberries tastes moderately sour and moderately sweet. The balance of these two opposite qualities is what makes the berry taste so perfect. The berries have a dense texture - this allows them not to wrinkle so much and keep their shape, which is especially important when transporting long distances. However, they are not solid. Polka contains a fairly large amount of juice in its fruits, but the berries do not become watery from this, but they still retain a dense texture.

The soil on which the raspberries are planted should not be too wet or too dry.If it is infertile and not rich in useful minerals, then special fertilizers should be used. It is worth growing it in more sunny areas so that it absorbs as much sunlight as possible, which it needs to grow. In addition, the bushes need to be located in elevated places so that moisture does not form at the roots of the bush.

As mentioned earlier, the place for the raspberry tree should be completely warmed up by the sun, not in the lowlands. Bushes will do better in soil that is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to saturate the soil with lime not only before planting, but also during the growth of the plant. Soil preparation should take place 3 weeks before planting raspberries. It is necessary to add humus and special fertilizers to it, then add lime if necessary, and then dig up and add ash (chicken droppings may still come up).

Even if this variety of raspberries loves moisture, you cannot overdo it. Indeed, with an excess of liquid at the roots, they will simply rot, and the bush will die. The Polka variety should be watered at least once a week in moderate weather. If it is constant heat outside and the sun is beating down, then the leaves of the bush should be sprayed with water so that they do not dry out. Watering is recommended no later than 9 am and no earlier than 6 pm. This plant is constantly in need of large amounts of minerals. Therefore, when choosing top dressing and fertilizers, you should pay attention to the content of minerals.

Raspberry Polka is very resistant to many diseases and pests. The most common diseases are root cancer, chlorosis, curl and purplish spots. Most diseases arise from improper watering and soil conditions, it is possible that the seedling was unhealthy or not planted so well. Of the pests of this variety: aphids and raspberry beetle.They have a detrimental effect first on the leaves, and then the whole plant suffers.

Polka reproduces vegetatively from the mother plant, that is, by cuttings or by dividing the bush. This is done as follows: in March-April, a shoot is separated from the bush, the height of which is about 15-25 cm. It must be separated along with a lump of earth. After all the actions done, the seedling must be planted in a shallow hole, which is dug out in advance. Seedlings are usually prepared in the fall, after harvest.