Common raspberry ( Rúbus idaeus) is a deciduous subshrub and belongs to the class Dicotyledons, order Rosaceae, family Rosaceae, genus Rubus.
Common raspberry - description and characteristics
Raspberry is a perennial plant with a very developed and sinuous rhizome, on which many adventitious roots are formed. Aboveground shoots are erect, from 1.5 to 2.5 meters high, in the first year of growing season they are green, with a barely noticeable bluish bloom, herbaceous and covered with thin thorns. By the second year of life, raspberry shoots become woody, acquiring a bright brown color. After the fruiting period they die, but a new shoot-stem grows from the same root bud in the spring.
On the stem of the common raspberry there are complex oval leaves, consisting of 3-7 dark green ovoid leaves, each of which is covered with hairs below and has a whitish tint.
Raspberry flowers are white, with many stamens and pistils, with a subtle honey aroma, collected in miniature racemose inflorescences, which are located on the tops of the shoots or in the axils of the leaves.
Common raspberry fruits
Sweet and very aromatic raspberries are numerous, small-sized drupes, fused into a complex fruit. Interestingly, the color of the fruit can vary from light pink and burgundy to yellow, orange and even almost black.
Where do raspberries grow?
This subshrub is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Europe and the countries of America. In Russia, ordinary raspberries are found in the middle zone and in the south, in the cold climate of Siberia and the Urals, and also grow in the mountainous areas of Kazakhstan, Bashkiria and Kyrgyzstan.
Raspberry is often called a pioneer plant because of its unpretentiousness to soil indicators: it is the very first to appear in the place of burnt-out forest clearings, and feels comfortable both in dry zones and along the edges of swamps.
Wild (forest) raspberries are mentioned in chronicles dating back to the 3rd century BC. This plant became known as a garden crop only in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Types, varieties, classification of raspberries
A huge number of raspberry varieties can be divided into the following groups:
- by berry size (large, medium, small);
- by color (yellow, red, black, orange);
- by ripening period (early ripening, mid-early, mid-ripening, mid-late, late ripening);
- by resistance to cold (winter-hardy, not winter-hardy).
Separately, it is necessary to distinguish standard and remontant raspberries.
Standard raspberry– a feature of the species is thick, powerful, branched, erect shoots, after pinching, they resemble a small tree, most often not requiring a garter.
Remontant raspberry- a type of raspberry that bears fruit in summer and also in autumn.
Below are some varieties of raspberries:
Yellow raspberry varieties
- Yellow sweet tooth
A mid-early, productive raspberry variety produces 3.5 – 4 kg per bush. The elongated berries, weighing 3-6 g, are distinguished by a pale yellow color and a bright aroma; the ripened fruits do not crumble for a long time.
- Golden autumn
The mid-late remontant raspberry variety is distinguished by its golden-yellow fruit color with slight pubescence. Raspberries are sweet, large, have a bright aroma, and are well transported.
- Morning dew
A remontant raspberry variety with golden-yellow fruits. The shoots of this variety are tough, about 1.5 meters in height, covered with a large number of thorns. The berries are large, spherical in shape, hard, weighing up to 5 kg. It is grown mainly in home gardens and a little on plantations. Raspberries of the Morning Dew variety are suitable for transportation.
- Yellow giant
Semi-remontant, winter-hardy variety of yellow raspberries, bearing fruit until frost. It has a high yield (up to 6 kg per bush) and unusually large, very sweet berries, weighing up to 8-10 g.
- Orange miracle
The remontant raspberry variety got its name due to the non-standard, golden-orange hue of the fruit. Raspberries are large, weighing 5-6 g; there are specimens weighing up to 10 g. The berries are characterized by sweetness with a slight sourness and a delicate aroma. The variety has excellent productivity and does not tolerate severe frosts and heat.
Varieties of standard raspberries
- Tarusa
The slender bush is highly decorative and has no thorns at all. The yield of one “raspberry tree” is more than 5 kg. The bright red berry with small seeds weighs up to 10 g. The aroma of raspberries is intense, but the taste is not expressed, so the Tarusa raspberry variety is more suitable for preparations. The variety has a mid-early ripening period; a temperature drop below 25 degrees can be detrimental to young shoots.
- Firebird
A productive variety of standard raspberries with a medium ripening period, it begins to bear fruit at the end of July. The berries are large, red, shiny, weighing from 12 to 15 g. The taste of raspberries is excellent, the berries are sweet, juicy, and do not crumble even when fully ripe. The winter hardiness level of the variety is 23-25 degrees, drought resistance is high.
- Sturdy
A consistently fruit-bearing variety of standard raspberries with medium ripening period. The fruits are red, weighing up to 10 g, very tasty and aromatic, easily separated from the stalk, but do not fall off for a long time. One bush can produce up to 4 kg of berries. The variety does not respond well to snow-white winters and sudden temperature changes.
Black raspberry varieties
- Cumberland
The early-ripening variety of black raspberries has increased winter hardiness and unpretentiousness. The fruits are round, medium-sized, weighing 2-4 g, initially red, becoming glossy black as they ripen. The berry is dense, sweet, with a slight sourness and blackberry flavor. The yield of a raspberry bush is 3-4 kg.
- Bristol
The most popular black raspberry variety of a new promising selection. It is characterized by late ripening and produces extremely stable yields. Round raspberries weighing 3-5 g have a black color with a blue coating, a pleasant sweet taste and aroma. The Bristol variety does not tolerate severe cold and is not resistant to anthracnose, a fungal disease of stems.
- Ember
An early ripening variety of black raspberries. The berries weighing up to 2 g are dense, black, and do not fall off when ripe. The taste is sweet and sour, the berries are perfectly stored without losing their taste and presentation. From one bush you can collect up to 5.5 kg.
Varieties of large-fruited raspberries
- Hercules
A remontant high-yielding raspberry variety, distinguished by large fruits weighing 5-8 g. Individual specimens weigh 15 g. The first harvest is harvested in mid-July, the second from the end of August until frost. Under cover it is possible to ripen 2 weeks earlier. The cone-shaped berries have a bright ruby color, a pleasant, sweet and sour taste and excellent presentation.
- Patricia
An early, winter-hardy, productive raspberry variety with velvety, red, conical berries weighing from 4 to 12 g. The yield reaches 8 kg per bush. The variety is characterized by a non-standard shape of fruits prone to deformation. Patricia raspberries have an excellent taste, but do not tolerate transportation and storage well.
- Senator
Mid-season raspberry variety with berries weighing 7-12 grams, in some cases 15 grams. The oblong fruits are burgundy-orange in color, have a glossy shine, velvety pubescence and a rich, sweet and sour taste. The variety is characterized by increased winter hardiness and tolerates frosts down to -35 degrees without damage.
Raspberries are an extremely popular plant in the countries of the former USSR, and not only. The tasty and healthy berries of this subshrub, when consumed regularly (but in moderation), have a beneficial effect on the body. In addition, they taste very pleasant - most people who have ever enjoyed fresh raspberries agree on this opinion.
- Raspberry fruits can be colored in any shade of red, from pale pink to deep burgundy. The berries of some varieties are yellow, white, and sometimes even black (for example, blackberries).
- Raspberries contain vitamins C, A and B, as well as other substances beneficial to human health, such as essential oils.
- From a botanical point of view, the raspberry fruit is not a berry, but a polydrupe, that is, it consists of many tiny fused fruits with seeds.
- Raspberries are used in medicine not only for their beneficial properties, but also for their surprisingly pleasant taste and aroma. Raspberries are often used as a sweetener for potions and other medicines, and in folk medicine they are considered a reliable remedy for colds, nausea and fever.
- Raspberry fruits can be eaten raw or prepared from them in a variety of dishes and drinks: marmalade, preserves, jam, jellies and juices. Raspberries are also used to make wines, liqueurs and liqueurs that do not require artificial flavors.
- Bees, collecting raspberry nectar, increase the yield of bushes by 60-100%. The raspberry flower is turned downwards, so insects can feed from them even during rain (see).
- Raspberry leaves make an excellent tea substitute by mashing them in your hands until they release their juices and turn black, then drying them at a high temperature.
- Russia is the world leader in raspberry cultivation, producing more than 200 thousand tons of fruit per year (see).
- Scientists began dividing raspberries into different varieties back in the 16th century. The cultivation of these plants began at the same time.
- In Russian folklore, “raspberry” often refers to a free, pleasant and “sweet” life without any problems. In this sense, it is the antipode of bitter viburnum, meaning misfortunes and troubles.
- Among criminals, a “raspberry” is called a den of thieves. True, according to one version, the gathering of criminals received this name not because of the berry - “raspberry” became a distorted version of the Hebrew melina (translated as “bunker, shelter”).
- Raspberries can help support the functioning of the heart, kidneys, circulatory system and brain, it helps maintain youth and skin tone. The fruits are rich in folic acid and iron, which makes them especially beneficial for the body of women (primarily pregnant women).
- Raspberries are considered an excellent antidepressant due to the copper it contains.
- According to a well-known legend, the first garden with raspberry bushes was founded by the outstanding ruler, founder of Moscow and other Russian cities, Yuri Dolgoruky. The garden was so large that wild animals, including bears, walked in it.
- People first discovered raspberry bushes in Greek Crete. The Romans became the pioneers, and this happened back in the 3rd century BC (see).
- In Greece, they tell a myth according to which a nymph decided to treat little Zeus to raspberries, who was crying so loudly that the gods on Olympus could not hear each other. When she was picking berries, she tore her hands bloody on the thorns - that’s why the raspberries turned red.
Raspberries are one of the most delicious, healthy and favorite berries; they are valued both as a delicacy and as a medicine. Most varieties are descended from the common wild red raspberry. Breeders from all over the world to this day create even more resistant to environmental conditions and more productive varieties of this crop.
The legend of the appearance of raspberries
Raspberries are a bush plant whose berries have a pleasant aroma and sweet and sour taste. Ripe raspberries are red in color and can be eaten both fresh and cooked. Raspberries are one of the most popular berries in our climate zone due to not only their pleasant taste, but also a number of beneficial properties. Jams, jams, jellies, compotes and other drinks and desserts are prepared from ripe raspberries.
The legend of why raspberries are red goes back to ancient Greek myths. According to history, the king of Crete, Melisseus raised two daughters, Adrastea and Ida. The girls nursed Zeus, who was still a baby, whose crying even strong rocks could not withstand. In order to calm the child, one of the girls picked white sweet berries from the mountains. But she was in such a hurry to feed the baby with them that she injured herself on the branches of a bush. Blood from the wounds got onto the berries and colored them bright red.
The scientist from Ancient Greece, Cato, first spoke about raspberries back in the 3rd century BC. The name Rubus Idaeus was given to raspberries in the first century AD by the historian Pliny, who encountered the plant on the island of Crete. The first part of the term “rubus” is due to the red color of the fruit, and the second part “idaeus” received its name in honor of the nymph Ida, who, according to legend, nursed the little thunderer. It was only in the eighteenth century that the berry received its final botanical name Rubus, which was given to it by the European naturalist Carl Linnaeus.
Raspberries were brought to Europe in the sixteenth century, and a century later they became widespread in Rus'. Initially, there were only three varieties of shrubs, but after several decades the number of raspberry varieties increased to one hundred and fifty. At the moment, raspberries have several hundred species.
Useful properties of the plant
Raspberries contain a large amount of useful substances. Thus, the iron contained in the fruits helps to recover after the loss of a large amount of blood. The glucose and fructose included in the composition help improve the performance of the brain and the cardiovascular system of the body. Due to the content of salicylic acid in the berries, raspberries are used during colds as an antipyretic.
Folic acid, contained in large quantities in raspberries, is necessary for the female body, as it helps improve reproductive function. Raspberries even out skin tone, smooth out wrinkles and rejuvenate the body.
Raspberries are a sweet garden berry that is glorified in folklore. She is mentioned in numerous fairy tales, poems, songs, myths and legends. What is the secret of such popularity of raspberries and how are they useful? When did people first start cultivating this plant? Interesting facts about raspberries will tell you about this and much more, reports womenzone.org.
1. Raspberry fruits have high taste qualities. It is most beneficial to consume raspberries fresh, but raspberry jam, jelly, as well as tinctures and liqueurs are especially popular.
2. Raspberry fruits contain up to 11% sugars, essential oils, vitamins A, B, C, organic acids and even alcohols (tartaric, phenylethyl and isoamyl), while raspberries are considered a low-calorie product. Raspberry seeds contain about 22% fatty oil, so they, along with fresh berries and leaves, are widely used in cosmetology.
3. There are many varieties of raspberries, but yellow ones, for example, are less healthy than red ones. Black raspberries, which are bred and grown in the USA, are considered the healthiest.
4. Raspberries are useful for maintaining good functioning of the heart and brain, for the prevention of kidney diseases, for anemia and high blood pressure, for maintaining skin tone, protecting against wrinkles and even rejuvenation.
5. Raspberry fruits and tea from leaves contain folic acid, so it is especially useful to consume them for pregnant women and those who are planning to have a child. Since raspberries contain a lot of iron, they are often called a “female” berry, useful specifically for women. But raspberries are also extremely useful for men to maintain men's health.
6. Dried raspberries are used as a popular folk medicinal raw material. They are used as a mild diaphoretic. Raspberry fruits and leaves are also used as a natural antipyretic.
7. If you're on the verge of stress, be sure to eat raspberries. Due to the content of copper, which is included in most antidepressants, raspberries will help cope with depression.
8. Raspberries are widely praised in Russian folklore. She is a symbol of the homeland, freedom, freedom, and a sweet, free life. Raspberry in folk art is the antipode of viburnum, which symbolizes a bitter lot, captivity, foreign land, and a deceptively beautiful life.
9. On the world market, the leader in raspberry production is Russia, but the plant is also widespread in other countries of the world. There is an opinion that the first raspberry garden was founded by the sixth son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky. According to ancient chronicles, this raspberry garden was so large that bears loved to graze in it.
10. Raspberries were known to the ancient Romans. It was mentioned among other fruit plants by Cato the Elder back in the 3rd century BC. e. In Latin, the name of raspberry is Rubus idaeus. This name was given to the plant by Pliny the Elder when he discovered raspberry thickets on the island of Crete. Rubus - since the berry is red, and idaeus - in honor of Mount Ida and the nymph of the same name from ancient Greek mythology, the daughter of the Cretan king Melisseus. Together with her sister Adrastea, Ida was the nurse of the infant Zeus. According to one myth, one day, having decided to feed Zeus with sweet berries, Ida scratched her hands on a bush and stained the previously white berries with her blood.
Interesting facts about raspberries Raspberries are a sweet garden berry that is glorified in folklore. She is mentioned in numerous fairy tales, poems, songs, myths and legends. What is the secret of such popularity of raspberries and how are they useful? When did people first start cultivating this plant? Interesting facts about raspberries will tell you about this and much more. Raspberry fruits have high taste qualities. It is most beneficial to consume raspberries fresh, but raspberry jam, jelly, as well as tinctures and liqueurs are extremely popular. Raspberry fruits contain up to 11% sugars, essential oils, vitamins A, B, C, organic acids and even alcohols ( wine, phenylethyl and isoamyl), while raspberries are considered a low-calorie product. Raspberry seeds contain about 22% fatty oil, so they, along with fresh berries and leaves, are widely used in cosmetology. There are many varieties of raspberries, but yellow ones, for example, are less healthy than red ones. The most useful is considered to be black raspberries, which were bred and grown in the USA. Raspberries are useful to use to maintain good functioning of the heart and brain, to prevent kidney diseases, for anemia and high blood pressure, to maintain skin tone, protect against wrinkles and even rejuvenation. Raspberry fruits and leaf tea contain folic acid, so it is especially useful for pregnant women and those planning to have a baby. Since raspberries contain a lot of iron, they are often called a “female” berry, useful specifically for women. But raspberries are also extremely useful for men to maintain men's health. Dried raspberries are used as a popular folk medicinal raw material. They are used as a mild diaphoretic. Raspberry fruits and leaves are also used as a natural antipyretic. If you're on the verge of stress, be sure to eat raspberries. Due to the content of copper, which is included in most antidepressants, raspberries will help cope with depression. Raspberries are widely praised in Russian folklore. She is a symbol of the homeland, freedom, freedom, and a sweet, free life. Raspberry in folk art is the antipode of viburnum, which symbolizes a bitter lot, captivity, foreign land, and a deceptively beautiful life. On the world market, the leader in raspberry production is Russia, but the plant is also widespread in other countries of the world. There is an opinion that the first raspberry sadz was laid by the sixth son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky. According to ancient chronicles, this raspberry garden was so large that bears loved to graze in it. Raspberries were known to the ancient Romans. It was mentioned among other fruit plants by Cato the Elder back in the 3rd century BC. e. In Latin, the name of raspberry is Rubus idaeus. This name was given to the plant by Pliny the Elder when he discovered raspberry thickets on the island of Crete. Rubus - since the berry is red, and idaeus - in honor of Mount Ida and the nymph of the same name from ancient Greek mythology, the daughter of the Cretan king Melisseus. Together with her sister Adrastea, Ida was the nurse of the infant Zeus. According to one myth, one day, having decided to feed Zeus with sweet berries, Ida scratched her hands on a bush and stained the previously white berries with her blood.