Raspberry Double Gold

Raspberry Double Gold (Rubus idaeus Double Gold) – one of the sweetest and juiciest remontant yellow raspberry varieties of the raspberry genus (Rubus). Bred at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York, USA). Breeder - Courtney A. Weber in 2005. Developed by artificially pollinating the cultivar Cornell NY319 with Grayton Gold.

Forms a slightly spreading bush with thorny, long, erect canes 1.5-2 m tall.

Fruits are large, attractive, broadly conical in shape, 1.8-2.1 cm long and 1.6-2.0 cm wide, weight 1.8-3.5 g. Color ranges from orange to orange-red (peach). Very sweet to the taste. Flesh juicy, with a delicate forest aroma.

Cold hardiness: -28°C

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

Planting: plant raspberries in spring before bud break (when planted in spring, raspberries require regular watering for 2 weeks). In autumn, seedlings are planted from mid-September to mid-October. Planting scheme 2x0.5 m. Planting pits are dug 0.4x0.4x0.5 m. Do not plant seedlings too deep; after planting prune shoots to 30 cm above the ground.

Diseases: resistant to root rots, in particular to Phytophthora root rot.

Pests: raspberry clearwing moth, stem fly, shoot gall midge, raspberry-strawberry weevil, raspberry beetle, prodoxid and bud moths, leaf and raspberry aphids, nut weevil, stem fly, spider mite.

Care: requires regular weeding and soil mulching. Responds well to potassium and nitrogen fertilizers. In the second year after planting apply organic fertilizer – 1 bucket of compost or humus per 1 cu. m, 25 g of double superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate. In early June, if growth is weak, apply a manure infusion (5:1) or poultry manure infusion (12:1) at a rate of 1 bucket per 5 plants. In autumn requires a water-charging irrigation. A support is necessary; a trellis is best.

Pruning of raspberries is done in spring when overwintered one-year-old shoots can be identified. Pruning shoots by 10-15 cm stimulates the formation of new fruiting branches. Per linear meter of row, leave 10-15 strong canes 1.5 m high, spaced 15-20 cm apart. Thinning is done in early spring, but if performed in summer when stems have reached only 20-25 cm, the remaining stems develop better. To accelerate ripening of a young shoot, it is recommended to pinch the tip in mid-August. Winter protection is necessary – stems are bent and tied in the last days of autumn before frosts. Do not do this on frosty days, as the stems can freeze and break.

Propagation: propagated by root cuttings, rooted tips of shoots, green and woody root suckers. Each year many shoots grow from the rhizomes that can be used for propagation the following year. For this, dig them up before they reach 15-20 cm in height and transplant them to a new site. Root cuttings are an effective method: roots at least 0.5 cm thick are cut into pieces 20 cm long and planted in specially prepared trenches.

Usage: raspberry fruits are used fresh, preserved and frozen; used to make jam, liqueurs, jellies, marmalade, juices, wine and tinctures. Widely used in medicine. Leaves are used as a tea substitute. Suitable as a pioneer plant, for embankments and slopes, and for planting beneath other plants.