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Raspberry Octavia is one of the varieties with late ripening berries. Popular in Europe, where it is cultivated on an industrial scale. In Our Country, the variety is not so in demand, you will not find it on the fields of agricultural complexes. Grow raspberries in summer cottages or household plots.
History of occurrence
Octavia is from England. A hybrid form of culture was created in 1996 at the East Malling Station. Octavia originated from a group of breeders led by Victoria Knight, MSc in genetics.
Raspberry was bred by cross-pollination of a complex hybrid EM 5928-114 and Scottish Glen Ample. After experimental cultivation in 2002, raspberry Octavia went on sale, first in England and Europe, four years later it was exported to the market.
Description of raspberry variety Octavia
Octavia is named after the eighth month of the year, because in August the crop begins its fruiting period
Outwardly, the Octavia raspberry is not much different from the usual varietal variety. But the fruits give larger with a pronounced aroma. Octavia inherited this quality from her predecessor Glen Ample. The complex hybrid endowed the culture with strong immunity and a high ability to form new shoots.
Berries
Raspberry Octavia bears fruit with a minimum concentration of acids. If the taste of other varieties is affected by the sufficiency of heat and lighting, then the nutritional value of the Octavia hybrid does not change from the changeability of weather conditions.
Characteristic:
- raspberries of the correct conical shape;
- large-fruited variety, weight – 5,5-6 g, leveled, small specimens are not found, the yield of marketable products is 98%;
- the drupes are densely packed, the grip is strong, the seeds are small, the berries do not crumble after ripening;
- up to eight viable ovaries are formed on the fruiting brush;
- color light crimson, matte, without glossy coating.
Octavia was created for commercial cultivation, so the list of priority qualities was the possibility of transportation and long-term storage.
Berries are fragrant, versatile in use
In addition to fresh consumption, Octavia is suitable for all processing methods.
Bush
Raspberry tall, compact. In order not to overload the plant, it is formed by 6-8 perennial stems.
What does the Octavia variety look like:
- Bearing shoots are dark gray with a brown tint, up to 2 m long.
- Intensive growth of green mass begins from the second year after planting. Young shoots are flexible, light green in color, numerous.
- The thorns of the raspberry Octavia are located in the lower part of the perennial shoots on the tops in the form of rudiments.
- Fruit clusters are long (up to 15 cm), the fruiting zone is 40 cm (starting from the crown).
- The flowers are self-pollinated, light cream closer to white, small, simple.
- Raspberry Octavia forms complex leaves, consisting of three rounded lobes, located on short thick petioles.
- The leaf plates are corrugated, with teeth along the edge, light green, with a small edge.
The root system of the Octavia raspberry is branched, powerful, of a mixed type.
The stems of Octavia are flexible, unstable, droop under the weight of the fruit.
Culture needs support.
Characterization
Octavia is a photophilous raspberry, but does not tolerate prolonged drought. It was created for growing in damp climates, so the berries do not lose their shape and are not prone to rotting, but can be baked in the sun. Raspberries bear fruit stably, the indicator is not affected by temperature changes. The plant is not afraid of prolonged rains in the cold season. Raspberry Octavia feels much more comfortable in temperate and temperate continental climates than in the subtropical zone.
Ripening time and yield of raspberry Octavia
The berries ripen at the same time, the fruiting cycle is extended. Raspberries begin to ripen in the second half of July. The last berries are removed at the end of August. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, the dates may be shifted, but only slightly.
Raspberry Octavia is not remontant, so the yield is average, it directly depends on the timely application of top dressing. Subject to the conditions of agricultural technology, 3,5 kg are collected from one raspberry bush. Octavia’s peak yield is observed in the fourth year of growth.
Frost resistance
The frost resistance index is not bad, but not the best. Raspberries winter without shelter at -250 C. If the indicator is lower, then Octavia requires warming of the root system. Young plants are less resistant. They are completely covered. In the spring, the variety is not at all afraid of return frosts. Raspberries are characterized by a relatively late start of sap flow, so the sub-zero temperature does not harm the structure of the stems.
Resistance to diseases
Octavia practically does not get sick if the feeding regimen and timely watering are observed. Raspberries are immune to anthracnose, all types of rot, septoria, purple spotting.
Raspberries are not affected by glass, stem gall midge, weevil. Without preventive treatment and with the mass spread of the pest on the Octavia variety, a raspberry beetle is found.
Advantages and disadvantages
Raspberries ripen during the period when early and medium varieties have already been harvested, and remontant varieties have just formed the ovaries of the second wave. Therefore, the variety fills an empty niche in the production of berries.
Raspberry Octavia is characterized by one, but a long fruiting cycle (1,5 months)
Pros:
- pronounced aroma;
- balanced taste;
- aligned fruits;
- high nutritional value;
- berries do not crumble after ripening;
- good frost resistance;
- stable immunity;
- versatility in use;
- retains its presentation during transportation;
- stress resistance.
Cons:
- average yield;
- fixation to the support is required;
- poor drought tolerance;
- berries can be baked in the sun.
The variety requires constant fertilizing with mineral fertilizers and organic matter.
Features of growing raspberries Octavia
Landing is carried out in the spring before bud break. Choose a flat area without stagnant water, in a subtropical climate – with periodic shading, in the temperate zone – in an open area. Raspberries grow only on slightly alkaline or neutral, aerated, fertile soil with good water-holding capacity.
How to plant
If there are several raspberry seedlings, they are distributed in a checkerboard pattern. The interval between the holes is 2,5-3 m. Material aged 1-2 years is bought in the nursery.
Landing algorithm:
- They dig up the place, bring in organic matter and ash.
- They dig a hole with a diameter of 50 * 50, a depth of 15 cm more than the root system.
- The bottom is covered with compost mixed with peat and part of the soddy soil.
- They put the raspberries in the center, cover them with soil so that the neck is about 5 cm under the ground.
After planting, Octavia raspberries are watered with Kornevin’s solution and the trunk circle is mulched
Raspberry Care Octavia
Watering the variety depends on the frequency of precipitation, the soil should always be moist. Maintain aeration of the soil by loosening, along the way, weeds are removed.
Raspberry variety is fed:
- in the spring before bud break with nitrogen;
- two weeks later – liquid organics;
- after 14 days, “Nitroammophoska” is introduced:
- at the time of budding, microelements (iron, phosphorus, manganese) and the Bud agent are effective;
- when berries are formed, fertilize with superphosphate and potassium sulfate;
- after harvesting, complex mineral fertilizer and organic matter are applied.
In autumn, a plant of reproductive age is completely cut out perennial stems, leaving only the shoots of the current season. They are shortened by 1/3. Raspberries require warming for the winter of the root system. The plant is spudded and mulched, if necessary, cover the bush completely.
Reproduction
Raspberries form a sufficient amount of root shoots – this is the most common method of propagation of the Octavia variety. During loosening, strong sprouts are left, the rest are cut off. The following year, in the spring, the material is planted on the site.
Raspberries can be propagated by layering. To do this, bend the lateral perennial shoot to the ground, fix it and cover it with soil. They are well insulated for the winter, at the beginning of the season plots are cut and seated.
The layering method is quite effective when breeding raspberries
A less productive way of propagating a culture is by cuttings harvested from annual shoots. They are planted in a container with a substrate, brought into the room for the winter. In the spring, rooted material is determined to a permanent place of growth.
Prevention of diseases and pests
At the end of the season, all plant debris is removed, the soil around the bush is dug up so that wintering pests and pathogen spores die. In the spring, raspberries and soil are treated with Topaz, and the surface of the root circle is covered with ash. During budding, the plant is sprayed with Energen. In autumn, before frost, they fumigate with colloidal sulfur and water the soil with Karbofos.
Conclusion
Raspberry Octavia is a late hybrid of English selection. The yield is average, but stable, the plant is stress-resistant, tolerates low temperatures well, and develops rapidly. The variety does not respond well to moisture deficiency. In subtropical climates, it requires regular watering.
Reviews of gardeners about raspberry Octavia
