Raspberry variety Zhuravlik: description, characteristics, planting and care, reviews

The Zhuravlik raspberry is still relatively uncommon among gardeners. This is surprising, given that this variety boasts high yields, winter hardiness, good survival rates, and other positive qualities. These berry varieties are generally available in all nurseries and specialty stores. We'll remedy this situation and tell you as much as possible about this everbearing variety; perhaps you'll find it to your liking.

Description

It's likely that this variety isn't among the most popular because it's relatively new. This raspberry was developed at the Kokinsky Research Center of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Raspberry and Cultivation, by crossing varieties such as Kostinbrodskaya and Rubin Bulgarian.

Zhuravlik was included in the State Register of Russia in 2001. It is zoned for the Middle Volga and North Caucasus regions. The cultivar's originator also recommends testing the variety in the Central Region. When planting in cities with colder winters, consider providing shelter.

The variety ripens early or mid-early, producing fruit until the first significant frost. It is resistant to low temperatures and raspberry mites, and has moderate immunity to various fungal diseases.

Characteristics

The bush is medium in height, usually no more than 2 meters, compact, with moderate shoot formation (6-7 shoots per bush). The stems are straight, thick, and thornless. Young shoots are purple with a slight waxy coating, while two-year-old branches are light brown. The leaves are large, dark green, moderately wrinkled, and slightly twisted. The pubescence is slight, with fine teeth clearly visible along the edges.

The berries are versatile, reddish-ruby with a slight pubescence, obtusely conical in shape, and weigh up to 3.5 grams. The flesh is juicy, pleasant, and very tender, with a sweet and tart flavor. Gardeners who have tried this variety rate its flavor at 4.7 out of 5. Ripe berries do not fall off, clinging firmly to the stem. The seeds are small.

The average yield from one bush is about 2 kilograms (about 20 centners per hectare of land).

Positive qualities and disadvantages of the variety

Before we move on to the list of advantages, it's worth noting that the variety has no disadvantages. There are very few, if any, minor drawbacks, and they rarely appear. Now let's highlight all the best aspects of the Zhuravlik:

• long fruiting period;
• convenient bush habit;
• unpretentiousness;
• the berries are tasty, they are good both fresh and in various processed forms;
• shelf life and transportability;
• unpretentiousness;
• productivity;
• good immunity to diseases, pests and frost.

This variety is more suitable for cultivation in small garden plots. For larger areas, and especially for industrial farms, high-yielding varieties and hybrids are usually selected.

Features of cultivation

Young seedlings are planted in the second half of September or until mid-April. The variety produces best results when grown in enriched loams and sandy loams. Highly acidic soil is harmful to raspberries. The plant should be given a sunny location free from any shade or strong winds.

The soil for raspberries is prepared well before planting. The soil must be dug, loosened, and fertilized. Organic matter is used initially. The bushes are carefully inspected before planting, and any weak or diseased roots should be removed. If a significant portion of the planting material has dried rhizomes, it is recommended to soak the lower portion of the bush in a mixture of water, clay, and humus before placing it in the hole.

If the soil in the selected area is dry, raspberries are planted in deep trenches, or if the groundwater table is high, the bushes are placed on ridges or mounds. The stems should not be buried; the root collar should remain level with the soil surface. The distance between seedlings is 50 cm, with row spacings of approximately 2 meters. If two bushes are planted per hole, the row spacing is reduced to 1.5 meters.

Reproduction

This variety can be propagated by root suckers, cuttings, and division. All methods are very simple, even for beginners. Cuttings are taken in the fall, with stem sections (10 cm each) planted in prepared beds and watered generously. New shoots will emerge in the spring.

Everbearing raspberries produce few shoots; these usually appear on bushes over four years old. In the spring, these are dug up and planted in a temporary area to root, then transplanted to a permanent location.

How to care for the Zhuravlik raspberry variety

Mulching is done in early spring and immediately after planting. This procedure helps retain soil moisture, prevents erosion, and helps prevent certain pests and weeds. Mulching serves several purposes: eliminating the need for tilling and weeding, and maintaining the integrity of the root system.

What can be used as mulch:

• sunflower seed husks;
• nut shells;
• peat crumbs;
• compost;
• chopped straw;
• crushed bark;
• rotted sawdust and shavings;
• straw manure;
• humus.

To compensate for the lack of nitrogen in the soil, mulch can be treated with urea. Raspberry patches are often covered with a special black film. Those with heavy soils with poor drainage should be warned. In this case, the soil should be left bare and loosened more frequently, preferably with a little sand.

The Zhuravlik raspberry requires staking, but any convenient method can be used. Watering intensity depends directly on the weather. Typically, raspberry bushes are watered thoroughly once a week, more frequently in hot weather, and no additional watering is necessary during rainy seasons. Watering is especially important before flowering, during berry set, and during fruit ripening.

Fertilizers are applied in early spring when buds open, two weeks before and during flowering, during fruiting, and in the fall after the last harvest. Nitrogen fertilizers are used in the spring, followed by organic and mineral fertilizers.

Pruning and preparation for winter

For everbearing raspberries, the shoots are completely pruned in the fall (down to the roots). However, some gardeners practice another method: removing only half the stem. The first option significantly reduces the risk of diseases and pests, as insect larvae and fungal spores overwinter on the shoots.

Full cutting is especially beneficial in cooler regions; the procedure significantly simplifies the process of preparing raspberry bushes for winter. Spruce branches, straw, or hay are used as covering material, and the bushes should be earthed up before covering. In cities with the coldest winters, the beds are additionally covered with agrofibre.

Prevention of diseases and pests

If agricultural practices are followed, the Zhuravlik variety is practically disease-free.

For gardeners who can't visit their dachas frequently, it's advisable to treat the plants with various protective products in the spring and fall. The risk of fungal diseases increases during prolonged rainy periods, so raspberry patches should be regularly weeded and the soil loosened, and the bushes should be tied up.

If traces of various viruses are detected on certain plants, they should be removed from the beds; such diseases cannot be treated. Preventing dangerous diseases involves using high-quality planting material and regularly disinfecting garden tools.

Zhuravlik will definitely gain recognition—it's just a matter of time. Be sure to try this variety; you won't be disappointed. You'll see, after just a few years of growing it, you'll start recommending it to everyone you know!

Reviews

Ilya. In 2002, I attended the Kokino Experimental Station's achievements exhibition and immediately purchased several Zhuravlik raspberry bushes. I fell in love with them from the very first year of growing them—they're easy to grow, delicious, disease-resistant, and overwinter well. In the second year, I began propagating the variety, and now I have a large raspberry patch that delights me with fresh berries until late autumn. I'll continue growing them and recommend them to everyone.

Irina. The plants are compact, and the berries are very easy to pick. They don't fall off when ripe, remaining on the bushes for about four days. I live in the Leningrad region, and I cover my raspberry patches with a thin layer of straw for the winter. Zhuravlik tolerates frost well. I cut the bushes back completely, and they grow back very quickly in the spring. It's a delicious variety, producing a good harvest of versatile berries. I bought the seedlings at a high price and have never regretted it.