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Most berries have a unity of taste and benefits. Every gardener dreams of growing a beautiful raspberry in the country, but the plant is rather whimsical and requires strict adherence to agrotechnical measures. But there are also exceptions to the rule. Raspberry Polana is an unpretentious Polish “lady” with remarkable characteristics.
History of variety breeding
The Polan variety appeared in the early 1990s at the Brzezno Institute of Horticulture and Floriculture. Moreover, two wonderful varieties were immediately bred – Polana (Polyana) and Polka. The remontant varieties Zeva (Swiss) and Heritage (American) were taken as the basis. The authorship is assigned to Professor Jan Danek, who is a leading specialist in the study and selection of raspberries.
To date, more than half of the agricultural land in Poland has been allocated for the cultivation of shrubs. Very quickly, culture became popular in the post-Soviet space. In Our Country, the variety has become the most popular in the northwestern regions.
Description of raspberry Polan
Polana, like all remontant plants, has a unique ability to grow new shoots during one season and bear fruit on them.
Distinctive features of the bush
The Polana bush is quite compact, not more than 1,5 m high. The shoots are upright, elastic, thick and strong. The shoot diameter is about 5 cm, so the branches do not bend or break under the weight of berries. However, according to gardeners, a garter will be useful.
Raspberry shoots branch well, so pinching the top is only necessary to control the height (if necessary).
There are few thorns on the bush, so they do not cause much inconvenience. The leaves are classically shaped with long petioles, large, deep green in color, arranged alternately. The color is small, white.
Distinctive features of berries
The fruits of Polana are worthy of an artist’s brush. Regular round-conical shape, glossy surface and unique pink-red color. Small drupes are tightly packed into large cones of berries. The average weight of one fruit is 6 g. The berries are juicy, with a pleasant sweetness and unobtrusive sourness. The fruits also have good keeping quality. The ratio of acid and sweetness directly depends on weather conditions: more sun – more sugar, the prevalence of cloudy weather – a victory for sourness.
Characteristic of the variety
In addition to the fact that you can harvest berries from Polana several times a season, the variety has other features.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The vast majority of raspberry varieties are moisture-loving plants. Polana is no exception, the plant can only survive without moisture for a very limited period of time. Prolonged drought will certainly affect the yield and worsen the general condition of the plant.
A big advantage for growing shrubs in Our Country is its frost resistance. The bush is able to withstand frost up to 32 ° C. At the same time, the berries ripen even at low positive temperatures (up to +5 ° C).
Terms of maturation and fruiting
Polana is one of the earliest ripening remontant varieties. The first fruits ripen already in July in the southern regions, a little later in other regions, and continue until October-November. This period accounts for the ripening of 80% of the total crop. Berries begin to ripen from the top of the shoot to the middle. After harvesting the first crop, they can be pruned (for the development of new shoots of repeated fruiting).
The beginning of the fruiting of the bush falls in the second year after planting. At the same time, repeated fruiting on two-year-old shoots begins at an earlier period. The fruits ripen every few days, but you can not rush to harvest – the berries can stay on the petioles for more than 5 days.
Yield from one bush
From one bush, on average, you can collect up to 5 kg of berries. With quality care and optimal weather conditions, the yield is up to 12 kg / m².
During the season, with properly carried out agrotechnical measures, up to 200 kg can be collected from raspberries at their summer cottage.
Taste qualities and scope of berries
Berries can be stored for several days in a cool, dry place, in the refrigerator – up to a week. For transportation, only shallow plastic vessels should be chosen. In such vessels, the berries will not crumple and will not give juice.
Raspberries are suitable for fresh consumption (mashed potatoes, yoghurts, desserts). They will make delicious confiture, jam, preserves.
You can also make raspberry liqueur or homemade liquor from the fruits of Polana.
Video “Introduction to Polan’s raspberry”
This video shows the main characteristics of the variety.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
In addition to the unconditional advantages, Polana also has some disadvantages that can be decisive when choosing a variety.
Advantages:
- early ripening, long fruiting period and high yield;
- frost resistance;
- excellent commodity and taste characteristics of fruits: excellent appearance, density of the structure of berries, small seeds, balanced sweet and sour taste;
- high degree of transportability and storage capability;
- disease resistance;
- easy reproduction;
- the fruits do not crumble from the shoots for a week.
Disadvantages:
- intolerance to prolonged drought;
- a large number of root shoots;
- obligatory garter;
- tendency to verticillium wilt.
Planting and caring for Polan raspberries
There are no difficulties in the agrotechnical procedures for the variety. It is only important to strictly follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners.
Recommended timing
Remontant varieties are recommended to be planted in the fall. The optimal time is the end of September or the beginning of October. Planting at this time allows the shrub to adapt before the onset of the first cold weather. You can plant raspberries in the spring, but this must be done before the start of sap flow.
Choosing a place, soil and seedlings
The best place for Polana would be a sunny, draft-protected area. But in the southern regions it is better to choose partially shaded areas with diffused lighting. Any fertile soil with a neutral level of acidity and a moderate degree of moisture will do.
It is important to choose a good seedling. The main thing is a healthy root system: flexible, elastic roots, without dry and damaged places. The height of the shoots is at least 25 cm, with several buds and without damaged areas of the bark.
Landing in trenches
On an industrial scale, raspberries are planted in shallow and narrow trenches (up to half a meter for both indicators). Distance – depending on the root system, but not less than 0,8 m. The trench is filled with fertilizers by ⅓, the seedling is placed, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with soil. The root neck should be 5 cm above the ground. Each seedling should consist of no more than 4 shoots. At the end, each bush is watered abundantly.
Landing in holes
Landing in the pits is carried out according to the scheme of trench landing. There is only one difference – a separate hole is dug for each bush. Often the near-stem zone is mulched.
Aftercare
Paulana needs regular moisturizing. The soil should get wet 40 cm deep. Water even before wintering, if there is a small amount of precipitation in the fall. The frequency and amount of irrigation is determined by the characteristics of the region. In order for moisture to penetrate to the roots and remain in the soil, the near-stem zone is loosened and mulched with peat.
Under the bushes, the soil must be loosened to a depth of 7 cm. It is recommended to loosen the soil at least 5 times during the season.
Author’s advice
Pruning and garter bush
Timely pruning stimulates the formation of new young shoots and an increase in yield on old ones (repeated fruiting). Also, do not forget about sanitary spring pruning.
Even the strongest shoots need a garter. A strong gusty wind, especially during the fruiting period, can not only tilt the shoots to the ground, but simply break them. Yes, and harvesting on a tied shrub is much easier.
Methods of control and prevention of diseases and pests
Polan has good immunity to diseases. But a violation in the implementation of agrotechnical measures can provoke the development of gray rot, anthracnose, verticillium wilt, chlorosis, septoria. Diseases can be prevented by treating bushes with fungicides.
Raspberries are also threatened by pests – raspberry beetle, aphids, spider mites. You can fight parasites with the help of drugs “Karbofos”, “Decis”, “Confidor”.
Reviews of summer residents
“Very pleased with the acquisition of Polana. Even in such climatic conditions, you can harvest a bountiful harvest of delicious berries. And most importantly, the bushes do not freeze slightly.
“You won’t surprise us with delicious berries. But oddly enough, the appearance of raspberries on sale completely compensates for their quite ordinary taste. ”
If you have long dreamed of unpretentious raspberries, be sure to try the Polan variety. The usual care activities, the choice of good planting material, and you can enjoy the great taste of the berry.