Japanese raspberry: variety description, planting and care

Japanese raspberry belongs to the Rosaceae family and has several names. Someone knows her as purple, someone calls her Japanese blackberry (because of her thorns), and some call it a wine berry for its spicy taste.

This plant is widely distributed in Japan and other eastern countries: China and Korea. There it is found not only in the gardens, but also in a wild-growing form. In Russia, it began to grow not so long ago, but it already has its fans.

Classifiers are still arguing about which type this plant belongs to, for it has signs of both raspberries and blackberries. And in some sources there are allegations that the genes of this berry also contain traces of cloudberries.

Japanese raspberry is a creeping vine with shoots, therefore it needs additional support. Stems are covered with small setae, which are soft to the touch and more like brushes than spines. Due to the long shoots, it is often used as a decoration of the landscape. Curly stems with their proper direction can create beautiful hedges on the plots.

The leaves of the Japanese raspberry on top are smooth, bright green, and on the reverse side they have a fuzzy texture and a silvery-white color. The first flowers appear in late May - early June. The flowers of a raspberry are five-petalled, small, about 10 mm in diameter. At the same time they can change their color from pale pink to dark red, purple. The inflorescences are collected in short bristly tassels and have some similarities with the well-known blackberry. Due to this variety of colors, the bush looks very impressive during its flowering, as well as during the period of fruit ripening.

Berries begin to ripen closer to the fall. They can be approximately 1 cm in diameter. However, they do not have a single color. In one brush you can see the fruits of several shades of red: from bright, almost orange, to rich wine, turning into purple. They are very beautiful shine in the sun and give a gloss.

This plant, judging by the reviews gardeners, quite unpretentious and does not need long and complex care. It winter well, even in extreme cold and does not like excessive watering. Japanese raspberry (purple) fruit feels great in the mountains and on forest edges. This variety is suitable for cultivation in northern latitudes with a changeable climate.

And yet, if there is a risk of large frosts, for the winter period the raspberry roots should be covered. At the same time last winter shoots dry up, and in the spring new ones start growing very quickly.

The root system of the Japanese raspberry is very extensive. Vertical roots are at a depth of about 1-1.5 m, and horizontal roots can spread up to 3 m from the main stem of the plant.

Especially lush the plant begins to grow for 3-4 years after planting. If you believe reviews gardeners, Japanese raspberry breeds rapidly and aggressively, like a weed. If this process is not stopped in time, it can flood the entire site, simultaneously “scoring” all the other plantations. Therefore, so that the bush does not grow randomly over the site, it is necessary to take measures to contain it within the territory allocated for it.

To do this, you need to perform a series of actions.

• Plant various plants near the bush to prevent additional processes from rooting.
• Dig into the ground around the perimeter of the site for raspberry fence. For these purposes, fit any boards, wooden and metal shields, the remains of slate and other valves. The main thing is that they are intact, without cracks and holes.
• Constantly monitor overgrown shoots and timely remove them.

After the plant leaves, all the stems on which there were berries, as well as sick and weak shoots are removed at the base level. In early spring, when the snow melts and the threat of frost is over, the remaining stems should also be cut to the first living bud.

Japanese raspberry is propagated in traditional ways.

• Seeds. To accelerate seed germination, stratification is required. You can sow the seeds in spring and autumn. Seeds can also carry birds, so the Japanese raspberry can form real impassable thickets in the most unexpected places.
• Root shoots. When the bush gives a sprout, it is cut in early autumn and left about 30 cm above the ground. After planting requires abundant watering.
• Cuttings. When the plant gives additional roots, they should be dug out, divided into segments of 10-15 cm and laid in previously dug holes about 10 cm deep. Sprinkle a layer of humus on top, cover with earth and pour abundantly.

• New processes. This method can be propagated raspberries until the first decade of June. Carefully, in order not to damage the young shoots, they are separated from the main root. Then dig and together with a lump of earth transplanted into the prepared hole.

Japanese raspberry is traditionally used raw. Her taste is sweet, slightly tart, which somewhat distinguishes her from the traditional garden relative. This variety is also good for preparing preserves, pastries and desserts - all vitamins and valuable substances are preserved after heat treatment.

Due to the dense structure of the berries, this variety behaves well when frozen, retaining its shape after thawing. Due to its astringency, this berry produces excellent wine.

As well as any other raspberry, the Japanese berry perfectly helps with catarrhal diseases: it lowers the temperature and promotes profuse sweating. This variety is also recommended for removing puffiness. In addition, the plant is used in gynecology - it helps speed up generic activities.

Also, do not forget about its decorative properties. The Japanese raspberry bush is crushed in a very original and unusual way. It is often used as a landscape decoration.

However, as mentioned above, the plants reproduce very quickly, so you need to constantly monitor its growth, correct it, timely removing all unnecessary. If you do not let her grow up on gravity, then this exotic miracle is fully capable of providing rapt views of neighbors in the area and guests.