Raspberry 'Golden Queen'

Raspberry Golden Queen (Rubus idaeus Golden Queen)) – a cultivar of the yellow common raspberry of the genus Rubus, early ripening. The cultivar was developed in 1882 in New Jersey (USA). One of the best and most productive yellow raspberry varieties.

It forms a tall shrub up to 2 m in height. Shoots are covered with a waxy bloom and have a small number of thorns. Bushes are spreading, with a large number of young suckers. Leaves are three-lobed, slightly corrugated, light green.

Fruits are lemon-yellow, with a creamier shade rather than bright yellow. Berries are round, large, honey‑sweet, without acidity, weighing up to 6 g and more, covered with small hairs. Fruiting shoots are flexible, not prone to breaking; each cluster bears 10–20 drupelets. It fruits in the first year after planting. From one mature bush about 6 kg of berries can be obtained per season. Berries are soft with thin skin, do not tolerate transportation well and soften in sun exposure.

Hardiness zone: -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-retentive but well-drained light loam soils (groundwater should be at least 1.5 m deep). On sandy and sandy-loam soils annual application of organic fertilizer and regular moderate watering are required.

Planting: raspberries are planted in spring before bud break (when planted in spring raspberries require regular watering for two weeks). In autumn seedlings are planted from mid-September to mid-October. Planting scheme 2x0.5 m. Planting holes are dug 0.4x0.4x0.5 m. Seedlings are not planted deeper than they were; after planting it is necessary to prune shoots to 30 cm above the ground.

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

Pests: raspberry clearwing, stem fly, shoot gall midge, raspberry-strawberry weevil, raspberry beetle, various moths (including bud moth), leaf and raspberry aphids, weevils, 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 cubic meter, 25 g of double superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate. In early June, if growth is weak, apply a top dressing with manure infusion (5:1) or poultry manure infusion (12:1) at a rate of 1 bucket per 5 plants. Needs a deep moisture-replenishing watering in autumn. Support is necessary; a trellis is best.

Raspberry pruning is carried out in spring when the one-year-old shoots that have survived winter can be identified. Pruning shoots by 10–15 cm stimulates the formation of new fruiting branches. On 1 linear meter of row, leave 10–15 strong shoots 1.5 m high, growing 15–20 cm from each other. Thinning is done in early spring, but if done in summer, when stems have reached only 20–25 cm in height, the remaining stems develop better. To accelerate ripening of a young shoot, pinch the tip in mid-August. Winter covering is necessary – stems are bent and tied in the last days of autumn before frosts. Do not do this on frosty days, as stems will freeze and break.

Propagation: propagated by root cuttings, rooted shoot tips, green and lignified root suckers. Every year many shoots grow from the rootstock that can be used for propagation the following year. For this they are dug up before they reach 15–20 cm in height and transplanted to a new place. 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 furrows.

Uses: raspberry fruits are used fresh, canned and frozen; they are made into jam, liqueurs, jellies, marmalade, juices, wine and tinctures. Because of their rich, sweet flavor they are especially loved by children.