Raspberry saplings Kastion

Remontant raspberry Castion bred in Vivai Molari nursery (Italy). The variety is quite young, it was patented only in 2018. According to the manufacturer, raspberries are distinguished by the early dates – a week earlier than other remontants – stable yield, low studded bushes and decent taste. Despite its youth and novelty, farmers and gardeners are already actively looking at the variety, who have calculated the possible profitability of raspberries of such early ripening. 

Varie Features

Castion bushes medium height, strong. Escapes – upright, slightly studded. Lateral branches are well developed. The root system of raspberries is powerful, branched with numerous filiform roots. The leaves are dark green, oval in shape, pubescent below. The flowers are small, pale green.

The fruits of Italian raspberries, bright red, cone-shaped, with a dessert taste and fruity aroma. Berry weight 3-5 gr.

The original taste of berries, early ripening, presentation, as well as high keeping quality (up to 5-6 days in the refrigerator) and transportability, – make it ideal for both personal consumption and commercial cultivation.

Raspberry "Castion" gives two full harvests per season. The first stage of fruiting occurs at the beginning of June, the second – at the end of July-beginning of August. At the same time, at each stage, the fruits ripen almost simultaneously, which allows you to collect them almost in one go. Raspberry yield – up to 1.5 kg of berries from a bush. 

Planting and care

Minimum practical experience of growing "Castion" in the regions of Russia due to its recent appearance on the market – the weak link of this variety. Therefore, it is perfect for gardeners who want to experiment and try something new on their site. By following the simple rules for caring for remontant raspberries and recommendations from the creators of the variety, you will get a stable harvest of delicious berries.

Landing. Accurate data on the frost resistance of "Kastion" the manufacturer does not give, but what can you expect from a variety bred on the Adriatic coast? In cold climatic zones, it is recommended to grow such raspberries indoors. In the southern regions, you can get by with an open one.

For raspberries, choose a sunny area, with light, loose, neutral-acid soil (pH 5.7 & ndash; 6.5). Avoid heavily shaded areas – plants do not like them and give birth to small, sour berries. Also, raspberries do not like lowlands and areas with stagnant moisture – the root system rots and the plant dies.

At one location, raspberries can develop and bear fruit for up to 7-10 years, over these years the soil is depleted and planting is postponed. In subsequent years (5-6 years), raspberries are not re-planted in this place, as well as after tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes. But in the place where legumes or grains grew, & nbsp; the variety will produce a good harvest.

The Castion is landed September or spring. However, during the autumn planting, the seedlings have time to take root better, and with the first spring warmth, they begin to grow and develop rapidly.

The process of planting raspberry seedlings «Kastion» no different from most remontant varieties. To do this, they dig trenches or landing pits – 40 cm in diameter and the same depth, leaving a distance between rows — 1.5 m., between the pits – 50-60 cm. Planting rate: three bushes per 1.5 m row. A nutrient mixture of compost, potassium, ash and superphosphate is laid at the bottom of the pits. A raspberry seedling is lowered into the hole, the roots are straightened, sprinkled with earth on top with the addition of the second part of the same nutrient mixture. The soil is compacted, the bushes are watered abundantly.

So that the bushes do not bend under the weight of the crop, receive more air and light, they are tied up with trellises. It is convenient and pleasant to care for such a raspberry.

Irrigation. With a lack of moisture, the berry begins to shrink and lose its taste. Therefore, raspberry "Castion" requires timely abundant watering, especially during periods of flowering, ovary and fruit development. In drought, raspberries need to provide a constant supply of moisture. The organization of drip irrigation is perfect for these purposes. With a large amount of precipitation, raspberries do not need to be watered so as not to create an excess and stagnation of water. Another full-fledged abundant watering of plantings is carried out in the fall, when buds are formed for the next season's crop.

Feeding. If, when planting, the bushes were fed with superphosphate and potassium, then there will be no need to re-apply them to the soil for several years. However, it is recommended to fertilize plantations annually with ashes and manure dissolved in water. Plants are carefully watered with this composition directly under the root. Also, as an additional source of vitamins and minerals, you can use ready-made fruit and berry complexes.

Cutting. Frostbitten, damaged and weak shoots are pruned in early spring. It is enough to leave 10 & ndash; 15 strong shoots per linear meter, shortening them from above by 15-20 cm, they will give the first summer crop in the middle part of the bush. Second harvest – will ripen in August on the tops of young shoots that appear in spring. In autumn, after collecting all the berries, two-year-old stems are cut, taken out of the raspberry bush and burned.

Preparations