Raspberry Lyachka

The Polish raspberry variety Lyachka is also known as Lyashka. Breeders have developed a universal culture, the fruits of which have found widespread use. They can be a delicious and healthy snack or dessert ingredient.

The semi-shrubs reach a height of 2.5 m, more resembling berry trees. Shoots are straight, powerful, but elastic. The medium-sized plant is covered with numerous and small thorns. The leaves are pubescent at the edges, have an oval shape and teeth. Their color is rich green. If the shrubs are not trimmed, the top of the plant will end with a stem bent under its own weight. During flowering, small white flowers appear on the shrub, which are collected in a brush.

Raspberry Lyachka is a remontant variety, so it bears fruit several times per season. The first berries ripen early. The fruiting period falls in June-July (the exact date depends on the climate) and lasts until the first frost.

The yield of this garden culture is high. With constant care, from 3 to 5 kilograms of fruit are obtained from one plant. With commercial cultivation, the yield reaches 20 tons per hectare of plantation. Ripe raspberries are highly transportable.

The color of the berries is traditional: bright red and with a raspberry tint. The shape is an oval or elongated triangle. In weight, the fruits gain from 6 to 8 grams with a length of 3-5 cm, however, there are also more authentic specimens. The sizes of the berries are large. The stems are covered with a waxy coating.

The taste of ripe fruits is sweet, with pleasant hints of sourness. The pulp is juicy and moderately dense. The fruits are suitable for processing or freezing. Due to its high density, raspberries retain their shape during long-term storage or transportation. You can store berries without a refrigerator throughout the day.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the Lyachka variety has obtained frost resistance above the average level. At the same time, raspberries react negatively to drought. The repairing variety needs enough sunlight, otherwise the berries will be sour. When laying a raspberry tree, you need to calculate the correct amount of free space (between rows - 1.5 meters, shrubs - 0.5 meters). Raspberries also need good watering and pruning.

Planting a Polish variety is not much different from growing other types of raspberries. Shrubs feel comfortable in loose and moist soil, which provides oxygen to the roots of the plant. Moisture stagnation must not be allowed. Dampness is bad for the health and fruiting of raspberries. Lyachka is especially demanding on the chemical composition of the soil. Fruit crops require a large amount of nutrients. Therefore, the shrubs are fed. Nitrogen-containing formulations are often used.

The site for the future raspberry tree should be spacious and sunny enough.An additional plus will be the protection of the territory from drafts and cold winds. For planting in the spring, you should purchase and install trellises in advance. Gardeners recommend arranging seedlings in double rows, in the direction from north to south.

When planting seedlings, holes are made with a size of 40x40x40 centimeters. To prevent the plant from falling through, a small mound is made at the bottom, on which a young shrub is installed. The roots are gently straightened. The growth point should be 3-4 centimeters above ground level. At the end of planting, the soil is carefully tamped, and the plants are watered abundantly. The land around the plants is mulched using rotted manure, sawdust or straw. Mulch helps maintain the desired moisture level, prevents plants from suffering from extreme heat or drought. It is also an additional top dressing, which gradually nourishes the earth with useful microelements.

The first time the plants are pruned during autumn planting. The branches are shortened at soil level. So the roots take root easily, and the green top is not affected by fungal infections.

In the first year, weakened shoots are removed in early May. Thus, the number of plants on the site is limited (10-12 stems per square meter). The next time the work is carried out after the harvest, around the beginning of August. Shoots that are already 2 years old are removed completely, leaving only young branches up to one year old. Green shoots are also thinned out, keeping an interval of 15-20 centimeters between them.

In the second year, in order for the plants to quickly move away from hibernation, the shoots are raised and shortened by 10-15 centimeters. After the procedure, you need to tie the shoots with wire to the trellis. Branches that have already borne fruit are removed in late July or early August. Woody shoots are cut at the root.

When irrigating a raspberry tree, you need to correctly dose the amount of moisture. The frequency of watering is strongly influenced by the temperature regime. Excess moisture is detrimental to the plant, and lack of moisture leads to a deterioration in the quality of the fruit. With regular rainfall, the plantation is not watered. The plant especially needs moisture after flowering and when pouring berries. Moderate watering is recommended. The drip irrigation system demonstrates high efficiency.

Watering is often combined with top dressing. Organic and inorganic compounds containing nitrogen are used in early spring when a lush green mass needs to be built. 2 tablespoons of urea are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Also, raspberries need mineral fertilizers. Instead of ready-made compounds, you can sprinkle the soil with wood ash. It is scattered in the root zone, and the top layer of soil is slightly loosened.

In regions with a frosty climate, the Lyachka variety easily took root due to its high frost resistance. Shrubs tolerate frosts up to 30 degrees below zero, but as a preventive measure, additional measures will be useful. The shoots are tied in bunches and pressed to the ground. Under a thick snow cover, the plant will survive until next year.

The Polish cultivar rarely suffers from traditional diseases and pest attacks. Strong innate immunity prevents plants from suffering from adverse weather conditions. To prevent the raspberry from getting sick, there must be enough free space between the plants. It is also important to thin out the plants and clean them of weak and broken shoots.

Shrubs of the Lyachka variety form a large number of root suckers. With their help, you can quickly grow young and healthy shrubs. In order for the shrubs to fully develop, you need to get rid of excess growth until it exceeds the mark of 15-25 centimeters.

Some summer residents recommend rooting green cuttings or propagating the plantation by dividing the bush. Such methods are rarely used, but they still have a right to exist. These breeding options are chosen when there is a lack of planting material. Ready-made seedlings can be bought in special nurseries where the shrubs are grown for sale.