Autumn raspberries are a relatively new group of varieties which, however, quickly gained popularity.The best known are 'Polana', 'Polka', 'Polesie', 'Pokusa' and the American 'Heritage'. Their extraordinary advantage is that they bear fruit on this year's shoots.
During one season, the bushes produce young shoots, on which flowers appear in the summer, and then fruit. In the next season, the whole cycle repeats itself. It is worth recalling that all older summer raspberry varieties bear fruit only on two-year-old shoots.Autumn raspberry varieties start fruiting slightly later than traditional varieties, usually from mid-August.
However, thanks to this, the harvest of these tasty fruits lasts continuously until the first strong frosts, and often even until November. After this time, fruiting stops and the bushes begin to prepare for winter.The end of the vegetation season of autumn raspberries is also a good time to carry out a basic cutting of the shrubs.
There are two types of cutting to choose from - simplified and modified.The first method is extremely simple and recommended especially to beginner gardeners.
Cutting simplified and modified
Simplified cutting
Raspberry shoots start to dry up after the onset of frosts. At this time, cut out all the shoots in a lane low above the ground.Cutting is best done with a sharp pruner
in such a way that only 2-3 cm sections of shoots remain above the soil.Thanks to this, we save time and greatly reduce the number of diseases and pests that inhabit old shoots.
Cutting modified
This pruning technique involves cutting not all but only half of the shoots low to the ground. Cut the rest of the shoots in half, leaving about 40 cm sections.Using a modified cut, we will make the first fruits appear in July on the partially trimmed shoots.On the other hand, the fruiting of the newly grown shoots will start a month later.
Raspberry curiosities
Poland is currently the largest producer of raspberries in the world. Every year we collect over 120,000 tons of these tasty fruits. According to many, we also have the best breeding farm in the world.The first variety of fruiting raspberries on annual shoots was obtained in Poland in the Fruit Experimental Station of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture in Brzezna.This is the 'Polana' variety, which is still one of the most famous and popular raspberry varieties.
