Articles
Substrate cultivation of raspberry in Germany
Article number
1277_24
Pages
165 – 172
Language
English
Abstract
The traditional soil based cultivation of perennial raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) is declining sharply in Germany and in other parts of northwestern Europe because of problems with root diseases and with fruit quality related issues.
The production system has changed to cultivation in substrate and pots under the protection of either rain covers or polytunnels.
The following cultivation methods are established now in practice: 1) Add-on cultivation with chilled long canes of summer-fruiting raspberries, e.g., cultivar ‘Tulameen’. Late January plantings in low heated glasshouses, provide harvest around May 10. After that long canes are planted in cycles from end of February to the beginning of June in unheated polytunnels or under rain shelters.
Harvest starts approximately 75 days after planting; 2) Autumn cropping of primocanes, e.g., cultivars ‘Maravilla’, ‘Diamond Jubilee’ or ‘Kwanza’ starting with the planting of plug plants in the beginning of April.
In the same year the primocanes crops from the end of August to the middle of October.
The new primocanes can also be produced from mow downs or rootblocks; 3) Double cropping of primocane-fruiting raspberries.
After the fall crop the fruited parts of the canes are cut back.
After the winter the pots are set up and the second crop occurs on the remaining part of the cane from the end of May to the beginning of July.
At the same time, the new primocanes grow and will be used for a fall crop again.
These high-intensive cultivation systems allow reliable yields between 12 and 25 t ha‑1 with an average weight of 5 g fruit‑1. However, with high initial investment and annual costs, the grower can only be successful if he has a good control of cultivation techniques and if he gets adequate prices in the marketplace.
The production system has changed to cultivation in substrate and pots under the protection of either rain covers or polytunnels.
The following cultivation methods are established now in practice: 1) Add-on cultivation with chilled long canes of summer-fruiting raspberries, e.g., cultivar ‘Tulameen’. Late January plantings in low heated glasshouses, provide harvest around May 10. After that long canes are planted in cycles from end of February to the beginning of June in unheated polytunnels or under rain shelters.
Harvest starts approximately 75 days after planting; 2) Autumn cropping of primocanes, e.g., cultivars ‘Maravilla’, ‘Diamond Jubilee’ or ‘Kwanza’ starting with the planting of plug plants in the beginning of April.
In the same year the primocanes crops from the end of August to the middle of October.
The new primocanes can also be produced from mow downs or rootblocks; 3) Double cropping of primocane-fruiting raspberries.
After the fall crop the fruited parts of the canes are cut back.
After the winter the pots are set up and the second crop occurs on the remaining part of the cane from the end of May to the beginning of July.
At the same time, the new primocanes grow and will be used for a fall crop again.
These high-intensive cultivation systems allow reliable yields between 12 and 25 t ha‑1 with an average weight of 5 g fruit‑1. However, with high initial investment and annual costs, the grower can only be successful if he has a good control of cultivation techniques and if he gets adequate prices in the marketplace.
Authors
L. Linnemannstöns
Keywords
Rubus idaeus, cultivation methods, floricanes, primocanes, long canes, cultivars, production costs
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