Fragrant sweet raspberry berries are loved by many. But unfortunately, disappointments are not uncommon when, after hard work, being careful of thorns, it is possible to collect only a couple of cups of raspberries from the bush. So that this does not happen, and there are barely enough containers and cans for preparations for the harvest, the care of this culture should be diversified with several methods. Let’s consider ways to increase the raspberry harvest.
Pruning
The so-called double pruning according to Sobolev, the sequence of which is divided into 2 years, gives excellent results with extended fruiting.
- In the first year, at the end of May, the tops of the bushes are pinched by 10-15 cm, thereby stimulating the growth of side shoots, and in the fall, all the growth is cut.
- In the second year, in early spring, when leaves barely appear on the bushes, absolutely all shoots are cut by 5-15 cm.
In addition to scheduled pruning along Sobolev, annual sanitary pruning of raspberry bushes should also be carried out.
Rejection of copying
The raspberry root system not only lies close to the surface of the soil, but is also painfully sensitive – it is very easy to damage it when digging, which will inevitably lead to a decrease in yield, no matter how hard the gardener tries to correct the situation.
By leaving the roots alone, you can significantly increase fruiting. Therefore, it is allowed only occasionally to gently loosen the soil. And to preserve its “lightness”, the trunk circles of the bushes are mulched.
Fertilizers by letter
It is not difficult to find many instructions on feeding raspberries under the root, but its “feeding” by the leaf is often and carelessly neglected. But this kind of top dressing is an effective and fast-acting help for the shrub, capable of restoring its strength for abundant and tasty fruiting.
Foliar feeding is also recommended when there is a threat of waterlogging of the soil, when watering is temporarily stopped. And for areas with clayey, dense or acidic soil, which prevents normal penetration and assimilation of solutions.
For foliar feeding, you can use herbal infusion prepared from nettle, burdock, dandelion or other weeds, solutions of nitroammophoska, urea or ammonium nitrate.
Pest control
Ideally, timely preventive measures should prevent their occurrence. But if they have already appeared – you need to act immediately, since in addition to immediately noticeable damage, any harmful insects reduce the immunity of the bush, cause a natural drain of the plant’s vital forces for “treatment”, while they could go to the formation of the crop.
During flowering, formation of ovaries and ripening of berries, it is necessary to use non-toxic folk remedies with components, such as onion, chamomile, mustard.
Watering
Unlike wild raspberries, which ripen fantastically tasty and in huge quantities in any summer – whether rainy or dry – cultivated raspberries have a capricious “character”.
The most important watering for the crop is done not at the formation of the ovary itself, but about a week before this significant event. Guessing the time can be difficult, but the main thing is not to miss the moment.
Thus, watering is divided into two portions – first, 10 liters of water are poured under each bush, and after a few days, when the ovaries finally form, the same amount is added. This method, in contrast to one-time abundant moistening, in addition, saves from the ripening of tasteless, liquid berries.
Preparation for wintering
Raspberries that did not survive the frosty season will not be ready for good fruiting. So care for the next harvest should begin in the fall. In the first days of October, it is necessary to remove dried leaves from raspberry bushes – they are of no use, but they can become a breeding ground for pathogens and pests.
Moderately lignified and green shoots are recommended to be bent to the ground and, after fixing, covered with breathable material. The best “blanket” for raspberries is a snow cover with a thickness of at least 40-50 cm, and if it is not available, use pine needles or corn stalks.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that all described methods of increasing the yield of raspberries can be used not only separately, but also all together. Naturally, the result of their mixing will only be better.