Growing raspberry seed: planting and care tips

Most often raspberries are propagated by cuttings, which is the fastest way to get seedlings.Growing raspberries from seeds is a more complicated and time consuming process. To get a good result, it is important to know all the features of planting seeds, and compliance with the rules for the care of shrubs will improve the yield of raspberries.

Raspberries refers to the type of shrubs. The height of upright stems can reach 2.5 meters. The root system is quite powerful, it grows not only deep into the soil, but also in width. Berries are a number of farms that are spliced ​​with each other in the upper wide part of the pedicel. The fruits of the plant look like truncated cones, but may have a different shape (depending on the species) - for example, more rounded.

Raspberry has a good sweet taste with a slight sourness. Berries can be used both fresh and processed. The fruits are widely used in cooking and food industry - for the preparation of sweet products.

In folk medicine, berries are used as an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent. They also make oil from raspberry seeds, which in cosmetology is used to care for face skin, hair, and also as a protective measure against sunburn.

Growing raspberries from seeds is a rather laborious process. If you do not follow all the rules, seedlings may not grow at all. An important step in this case will be the preparation of seeds for planting.

Seeds can be obtained independently (from the fruits of raspberry, which is already growing in the garden plot) or purchased in the store. Before buying, it is important to choose the right raspberry variety. When choosing, you need to focus on the climate in the region where the shrub will grow. However, store seeds are not always of good quality, so it will be safer to reproduce already growing shrubs.

Collected fruits are required to be inspected: they must be free from defects. Rotted berries to obtain seeds is not recommended. Clean and whole raspberries must be wiped through a sieve or squeezed through gauze. As a result, the juice will be separated, the cake will remain. From it and get the seeds.

To separate the planting material from the pulp of the fruit, the obtained cake must be placed in a container with water. For seedlings it is necessary to use only those grains that remained at the bottom of the container. Planting material that has surfaced is not recommended. Selected seeds are kept in water for 24 hours (for swelling).

The second method of extracting the grains is to dry the cake. Waste is distributed on a sheet of paper or laid on a clean cloth in a thin layer. Drying is recommended in a place protected from direct sunlight. When the porridge mass dries out a little, the seeds can be easily extracted from it.

Going to start planting seeds, they must first be stratified. This process involves the creation of certain storage conditions for the grains, which will accelerate their germination after planting in the ground. In this case, it is important to monitor the temperature and humidity level.

Grains that have been previously separated from the pulp of berries and kept in water should be put in a small bag of fabric or wrapped in gauze. A bag of seeds should be slightly moistened with water, placed in a box and mossed on all sides.

The box is removed for storage in a dark place (until mid-spring). It is necessary to periodically take the planting material and moisten it. Alternatively, you can mix the seeds with wet sand and put everything in a box.

The box for the winter is buried in the ground at a shallow depth.The layer of earth above the seeds should be about three centimeters. When choosing a place to bury seeds, it should be borne in mind that in winter this area should contain a large amount of snow.

Sowing of the prepared planting material can be carried out in the middle of spring. To sow the seeds correctly, it is necessary to prepare the soil. They dig up the earth, loosen, fertilize and moisturize. It is not recommended to wet the soil strongly, as raspberries do not grow well in too damp ground.

Seeds are planted at a shallow depth (about three centimeters). Bones are instilled with a prepared mixture, which consists of soil, sand and humus. Raspberry seed can sprout unevenly. The first shoots usually appear in late spring. When a shrub begins to sprout from a seed, and a couple of leaves appear on the surface of the earth, seedlings can be planted.

Young shoots are recommended to be placed in a greenhouse in a previously prepared soil in order to germinate them before planting in a permanent place. In the greenhouse for the plant care is required.

The shoots in the greenhouse to the fall are gaining strength, after which they can be planted in the garden. When choosing a place for planting shrubs, it is important to bear in mind that raspberries are a light-loving plant, therefore the site should not be in the shade. Shrubs planting in a temporary place is most often carried out in one or several rows. The distance between rows is usually about 40 centimeters, and between adjacent shoots - not less than 15 centimeters.

Raspberries need regular watering, the frequency of which depends on the climate in the region. It is important that in summer the soil was never dry. For the preservation of moisture in the soil it is recommended to cover it with mulch of sawdust or hay.

The last transplant of shoots takes place at the end of summer or at the beginning of autumn. The selected area is recommended to dig and fertilize. Seedlings are placed in the wells, the depth and diameter of which must be at least 40 centimeters. It is recommended to pour sand and fertilizers into each pit.

Judging by the reviews of experienced gardeners, it can be noted that the care of raspberries is not particularly difficult. The shrub requires regular watering during the period of active growth, from mid-spring until the onset of cold weather. With an insufficient amount of moisture, raspberry does not fruit well, and its yield can be reduced three times.

The bushes regularly appear new shoots. In order for the plant to grow and develop well, old or weak branches must be cut. For one season it will be enough to carry out one pruning. This procedure is carried out in the middle or at the end of spring. On one bush must be left about 7 stems.

In regions with cold winters, shrubs are recommended to bend to the ground in autumn. A kind of cap from the branches will serve as a protective layer against freezing of the root system. For garter shoots using the trellis system. Tapestries will also be required in springtime to tie up already straightened branches.

Fertilizing raspberries is recommended after the complete disappearance of snow. Usually from mid-April, the soil is ready for fertilizer. As a feed in this period, you can use urea or ammonium nitrate. On one square meter of land with plantings take about 100 g of fertilizer.

At the stage of active growth of shoots, it is recommended to add fertilizers of organic origin. For these purposes, you can use cow dung or chicken manure. Organic fertilizers are pre-mixed with water (1 kilogram for a large bucket of liquid). The resulting composition is abundantly watered shrub.

When the first fruits appear, it is necessary to feed mineral phosphate fertilizers. In this case, about 50 g should be spent per square meter.

To prevent the development of diseases of the shrub and to protect against insect pests, the plant must be periodically treated with special compounds. Processing takes place about a week before the flowers appear.

Copper sulfate is used to protect against the spread of fungal diseases. The tool is distributed to the branches and is added to the soil around the shrub. Pre-copper sulfate is diluted in pure water (100 g per 10 l).