Raspberry 'Phenomenon'

Raspberry «Phenomenon» (Rubus idaeus) – a mid-season raspberry cultivar. The cultivar was developed in 1991 at the Institute of Horticulture of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences (UAAS), at the Krasnokutsk experimental station by crossing the cultivars «Stolichnaya» and «Odarka». Breeder G.K. Gonchar

It is a tall, medium-spreading bush 2.5-2.7 m in length. One-year shoots are green with a purple tint, two-year shoots light brown, sparsely covered with spines.

Fruits are medium to large, weighing 4.5-9 g, conical, red. Drupelets are large, moderately adherent. Flesh juicy, tender, sweet-sour in taste, with a light aroma (4.3 points). The detachment is dry. Soluble solids - 11.71%, sugars - 7.6%, organic acids - 2.02%, vitamin - 44.7 mg per 100 g of fresh mass. Yield is annual, abundant (6-8 kg per bush). Berries ripen in the second half of June. Ripening is synchronous, fruits do not fall and are not sunscalded.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-30°C).

Location: prefers open, well-warmed and sheltered-from-cold-winds sites. Grows well on fertile, neutral soils (pH 5.5-6). Preferably planted on moisture-retaining but well-drained (groundwater should lie at a depth of at least 1.5 m) light loamy soils. On sandy and sandy-loam soils annual application of organic fertilizer and regular moderate watering are necessary. The cultivar is drought-tolerant.

Planting: raspberries are planted in spring before bud break (with spring planting raspberries require regular watering for 2 weeks). In autumn seedlings are planted from mid-September to mid-October. Recommended spacing at planting is 70 cm, between rows 1.5-2 m. It tolerates crowding normally if fertilized.

Pruning: to obtain an early crop you can perform a full pruning in autumn or a short pruning to 2 buds (at the same time cut out all thin shoots to reduce the load on the bush). With full pruning in autumn a taller bush with a larger yield can be obtained.

Care: needs regular weeding and soil mulching. Responds well to potassium and nitrogen fertilizers. In the second year after planting it is necessary to apply organic fertilizer - 1 bucket of compost or humus per 1 cubic meter, 25 g of double superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate. In early June, if growth is weak, top-dress with manure infusion (5:1) or poultry manure infusion (12:1) at the rate of 1 bucket per 5 plants. In autumn it needs deep watering (water-charging irrigation). Requires tying.

Propagation: propagated by root cuttings, rooted shoot tips, green and lignified root suckers. Sends out suckers from the stumps of mown canes.

Pests: resistant to gall midge.

Diseases: resistant to fungal diseases.

Uses: berries are consumed fresh and are suitable for processing. The cultivar is characterized by increased resistance to unfavorable cultivation conditions. Notable for large berries, high yield, excellent market qualities, good storability and transportability.