Raspberry Hercules: variety description, planting, cultivation and care with photo

Raspberries are a storehouse of he althy vitamins and minerals, so it's no surprise that remontant varieties that produce multiple crops per season have quickly become popular. One of these varieties is Hercules raspberry, the description of which can impress anyone. The advantage of the hybrid is not only fruiting twice a season, but also yield.

Description and characteristics of raspberry Hercules

The raspberry variety Hercules was created by a breeder from Russia I. V. Kazakov. Harvest bushes give up to 2 times during the growing season - in July and August. The first time the berries ripen on old shoots.The second time - on the young. The bush belongs to a slightly sprawling type, reaches a height of 2 m without pruning. The shoots are quite powerful, even if there is a lot of crop on the bushes, they do not lean down, so the bushes do not need to be tied to a support.

Young shoots of emerald hue, last year's ones turn brown-purple and become covered with a wax coating. All stems are completely covered with thorns.

Among the benefits are a lot of berries. Fruits at the stage of full maturity reach a weight of 7-12 g. The maximum weight can reach 16 g. The shape of the fruit is cone-shaped, the color of the raspberry is rich pink with a red tint. The pulp is dense, sweet and sour in taste with a pronounced raspberry aroma.Tasting scale scored 4 out of 5.

Up to 2 kg of crop is harvested from one adult Hercules bush. Due to the high and stable yield, the variety is grown not only in summer cottages, but also on an industrial scale. The variety belongs to drought-resistant and frost-resistant hybrids.But in winters with little snow, it is advisable to shelter the bushes from frost.

The main pros and cons of the variety

The main benefits of the Hercules variety for gardeners:

• taste qualities of berries;
• yield;
• fruiting occurs twice a year;
• large berries;
• bushes can survive frosty winters and dry summers;
• easy care.

Among the shortcomings, weak shoot formation is distinguished, during the summer there are only three replacement shoots. Also, the bushes are completely covered with thorns, which complicates the collection of berries. It is easy to injure hands if assembled without gloves.

The nuances of growing berries

Growing remontant varieties according to technology is practically no different from planting ordinary raspberry hybrids. This is a crucial moment, on which not only future yields depend, but also he alth and immunity to diseases and pests.

Which location on the property is suitable for landing?

Before you start planting raspberry seedlings, you should decide on the choice of location. Raspberries are light-loving crops and will bear fruit poorly when planted in the shade. The area with raspberries should be lit from all sides for most of the day. Also, the site must be protected from cold winds from all sides. It is best to plant seedlings on the south or east side.

It is undesirable to place seedlings next to spreading trees. They will not only cover the sun for raspberries, but also absorb most of the nutrients from the soil. Because of this, raspberries will grow worse.

The soil for planting is chosen fertile, well-drained. The most favorable sandy or loamy soil.

Preparing the ground

Preparing the soil for planting seedlings begins in the fall.During this period, the soil is dug up, all weeds are removed and rotted manure is introduced. During the winter, the soil will become fertile. In the spring, the earth is dug up again, watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect it. After that, they start landing.

Dig up to a depth of at least 15 cm. Harmful insects hibernate in the upper layer of soil, and in spring they feed on the juice of young leaves of plants that grow near the wintering site.

Selection of seedlings

Particular attention when planting is given to the choice of planting material. First of all, when buying a seedling, they inspect the root system. The roots should be elastic, he althy and not dried out. They should also be free of mold and insects.

Shoots should be elastic, without damage, traces of insects. The stems are red-brown in color, with a slight layer of waxy coating. If there are dried branches on the seedling, it is not suitable for planting.

Starting landing

Basically, the reproduction of the Hercules variety occurs by seedlings or cuttings. But the easiest way is to buy ready-made specimens and plant them.

Boarding process:

• Make indentations in the soil about 60 cm.
• Stick a strong wooden picket fence in the middle.
• The distance between the holes is left up to 70 cm.
• Put the seedling in the hole, cover with soil and tamp near the root neck.

Tie a new seedling to the picket fence. At the end of planting, water the raspberries with warm water.

When raspberries are planted Heracles

Raspberry Heracles is planted in spring or autumn. In spring, the second half of April - the beginning of May is considered a favorable period for this. In autumn, landing is carried out in late September - early October. The planting time of the shrub does not affect the yield.

Rules for caring for raspberries

Like any crop, raspberries need constant care. Some gardeners neglect these procedures. This subsequently affects the yield.

Water and fertilize

Repairing raspberries The daughter of Hercules cannot bear fruit without top dressing. The first time the plant is fed in early May with nitrogenous fertilizers. The second time nutrients are applied during flowering and fruiting. Use phosphorus-potassium complex top dressing, wood ash or diluted bird droppings. After harvesting, rotted manure is introduced into the soil.

Plentifully water the shrub in the first half of the growing season. Then 5-6 moisturizing per month is enough.

Weeding, loosening and mulching

Several times a month it is necessary to loosen the soil in the raspberries. The soil is weeded to a depth of 7-9 cm. It is not recommended to loosen it deeper so as not to damage the root system of the bushes. During weeding, all weeds are removed from the site.

So that the shrub does not die from winter frosts, the soil around the bushes is mulched. The mulch layer should not be less than 10 cm. Peat, sawdust, straw and agrofibre are suitable as mulching material. In addition to protecting shrubs from frost, they also keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing.

Cutting

Raspberries cut off all dry and damaged branches in autumn. It is also advisable to prune the two-year-old shoots that produced this year's crop. It is not recommended to touch young and he althy branches.

Wintering

In the fall, after harvesting, two-year-old shoots that have already borne fruit are cut off. Weak and dry branches are also removed. Then they cover the raspberries with spruce branches. If the winters in the growing region are warm, shelter is dispensed with.

Diseases and harmful insects

Raspberries often have aphids. You can get rid of it by spraying with soapy water. There is also a raspberry beetle on the shrub. You can get rid of it by treating plants with karbofos. And so that insects do not appear on the plant in the spring, the soil is dug up in the fall and watered with potassium permanganate.

White and brown spotting is destroyed by spraying with copper-containing preparations. Treatment of plants with Bordeaux liquid helps against rust. If a spotted mosaic appears on the bushes, it cannot be cured. We'll have to dig up and destroy the bushes. The same will have to be done if the bushes are sick with leaf curl.

Harvest and use of crops

The raspberry variety Hercules bears fruit twice a season. It is best to pick berries with gloves, especially if the raspberries are large. All stems of the plant are covered with thorns and it is easy to damage the skin when picking berries.Harvesting is recommended early in the morning, while the sun is just rising, or in the evening, when it has already set. If you pick fruits in a cool place, they will be stored longer. Berries picked in the heat spoil quickly.

For harvesting raspberries, it is recommended to take large baskets or buckets with you. If the berries lie on top of each other in a thick layer, they will quickly begin to ferment and become moldy. The longest berries will be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +4 - +6 degrees.

The use of raspberries in cooking is extensive. Berries are used for cooking jams, jams and compotes. Raspberries also make delicious pies and pies. The berries are frozen fresh for the winter. Another way to harvest fruits is to dry them. Dried berries are used to make tea.

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