Who doesn't love to enjoy fragrant raspberry jam in winter? The best preserves are those made from your own harvest. To choose the right raspberry variety among the wide range available, consider the ripening time, berry size, taste, and commercial quality. Some gardeners prefer remontant raspberries, while others prefer traditional summer-fruiting ones. For some, taste is paramount, while others base their choice solely on yield quantity. Let's explore the best raspberry varieties.
Table of contents
Summer-Fruiting Varieties
Summer-fruiting raspberries bear fruit on second-year canes (floricanes). After fruiting, these canes die back. The berries of most summer-fruiting varieties are small but juicy and sweet.
Early-Season
Early varieties produce a harvest by mid-June. They are grown primarily in regions with cool and short summers, such as in Northern Europe. With proper care, the berries of these shrubs are not inferior in taste and commercial quality to mid-season and late varieties.
Faith
Bushes are semi-spreading, up to 1.8 m tall. The canes are covered with dense leaves and small, sharp thorns. The berries are small and uniform, with an average weight of 2.7 g, and a blunt-conical shape. The taste is classic, sweet and sour. Yield is stable, about 2 kg of fruit per plant per season. From the detailed description of the Faith variety, it is clear that it is problem-free to grow.
Tablemaker
In southern regions, Tablemaker fruits after June 20th, in northern regions - in early July. Yield - up to 5 kg per plant per summer. Advantages include the absence of thorns, frost resistance down to -30°C, and good berry transportability. The berries are conical, red, and shiny. Average weight - 8 g. The flesh is firm, the taste is delicate and sweet. The harvest is suitable for all types of processing.
Attention! For planting raspberries, prepare a hole and fertilize it with well-rotted manure. Soak the seedlings beforehand in a root stimulator like auxin-based solutions. These procedures strengthen the plant's immunity and make it less susceptible to climate changes.
Mid-Season
Mid-season raspberry varieties ripen by the end of June and fruit until early August. Gardeners choose these varieties for planting in Central and Western Europe. Growing these shrubs does not require special skills - even a novice gardener can achieve a rich harvest.
Bashful
Bushes are medium-sized, about 1.5 m tall, slightly spreading. The canes are thornless, which simplifies harvesting. The berries are round-conical, weighing about 2 g each. The flesh is firm, pink-red in color. The taste is sweet, without a strong aroma. Average yield is 2.7 kg of berries per bush. They ripen uniformly, do not fall off, and do not crack. The Bashful raspberry is also self-fertile.
Red Queen
Bushes are slightly spreading but tall - some reach up to 3 m. The canes are thornless, brown, and upright. The berries are blunt-conical, dark red, average weight - 5 g. Red Queen is resistant to anthracnose and septoria, and is rarely damaged by spider mites. Yield is stable - up to 6 kg per summer.
Amber Queen
Bushes are upright, height - up to 2.5 m. The canes are green, without pubescence and thorns. The Amber Queen raspberry is winter-hardy and not susceptible to chlorosis. The berries are red, average weight - 4 g. The drupelets are firmly attached, the flesh is juicy, sweet and sour. The Amber Queen yields about 3 kg of berries per summer. The fruits are transportable; the variety is grown for personal use and for sale.
Ruby
A universal large-fruited variety with extended fruiting. The bushes are strongly spreading, the canes are thornless and long. The berries are large, weighing about 5 g each, the flesh is dense. The taste is harmonious and sweet, tasting score - 4.2 points. The Ruby variety is rarely affected by purple blotch and is resistant to raspberry mite. Yield is stable, up to 3 kg per plant.
Alpine Dawn
Bushes are tall and powerful, semi-spreading. There are few thorns, they are short and soft. The berries are dense and uniform, weight about 3 g, round-conical in shape. The color is rich red. The taste is pleasant, berry-like, tasting score - 4.5 points. Alpine Dawn ripens in mid-July, fruiting lasts 2-3 weeks. The variety is winter-hardy, yield - about 2.5 kg per summer. This tasty raspberry is suitable for processing, fresh consumption, transportation, and storage.
Late-Season
Late varieties of summer-fruiting raspberries ripen from the beginning to the end of August. They are used for processing: making jams and compotes, freezing for winter, or drying.
Ruby Giant
Bush height - 1.8 m, canes straight, few thorns. Ruby Giant is frost-resistant and drought-tolerant, easy to care for. The first fruits ripen after June 20th. The berries are blunt-conical, average weight - 3.6 g, bright red color. The flesh of the Ruby Giant raspberry is sweet, with a delicate aroma. The purpose of the fruit is universal.
Siberian Blue
Shrubs are slightly spreading, yielding after July 15th-25th, depending on the growing region and weather conditions. The canes are medium-sized, without thorns, leaves are small. The fruits are large, weighing from 6 to 10 g, cone-shaped and elongated. The taste of the Siberian Blue raspberry is dessert-like, sweet, with a slight acidity. Frost resistance - down to -30°C, immunity to diseases and pests is high.
Annelise
The Annelise raspberry is grown in Central and Northern Europe. The plant is winter-hardy and undemanding. During the season, gardeners harvest 4-5 times, as fruiting is extended. The berries are elongated-conical, weighing from 8 to 15 g each. They are transportable and do not crumble when picked. The flesh is sweet and fragrant, with a bright raspberry aroma. Yield - up to 4 kg per plant.
Capital
Bushes are tall but compact, making them suitable for growing in small areas. The canes are thick, with a waxy coating, no thorns. Fruit weight - about 7 g, some specimens reach 15-20 g. After ripening, the raspberries do not fall off, retaining their taste and appearance.
Attention! Do not store fresh raspberries for more than 3 days. It is recommended to freeze them or dry them in an oven. In winter, the berries can be added to tea or mashed with sugar for a delicious treat.
The Capital variety is easy to care for and resistant to major fungal diseases. The disadvantage is the large amount of root suckers on the seedlings.
Everbearing (Remontant) Varieties
Everbearing varieties differ from summer-fruiting ones in their prolonged fruiting period. The first harvest of large berries forms on first-year canes (primocanes), and the ripening duration is from 25 to 45 days.
Erica
An everbearing variety of Italian selection. The bushes are powerful and tall, growing up to 2 m. The canes are strong, with thick thorns, and upright. The fruits are round-elongated and uniform. Color is bright red, weight - 4-7 g. The taste is pleasant, sweet. Yield of the Erica raspberry - up to 3 kg per plant per season. The variety is valued for its transportability and long shelf life. The fruits are used for jams, preserves, juices, and compotes.
Jacqueline
The plant is strongly spreading, with a large number of thorns along the entire length of the canes. The berries are large, weighing about 8 g each. Color is red-burgundy, flesh is dense, drupelets are tightly packed. The taste is sweet, harmonious. The fruits are harvested in several stages. Yield - up to 2 kg per plant. Jacqueline raspberries are frozen, added to pies, or eaten fresh.
Margarita
Margarita is grown in greenhouses and open ground; the plant is undemanding. The bushes are thorny, up to 2.5 m tall. The canes are light green, leaves are medium-sized. The berries are attractive: dark red, shiny, with a dense consistency. The taste is refreshing, sweetish, with a hint of acidity. Weight - about 5 g, yield - up to 4 kg per year. The Margarita raspberry is valued for its resistance to powdery mildew.
Penguin
A low-growing everbearing variety. The berries are large, weighing 4-6.5 g each, red-purple in color. Tasting score - 3.7 points, taste is sweet and sour, without aroma. Yield - up to 6 kg per plant. Penguin is grown in home gardens and on commercial farms. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests.
Helena
Fruiting of the Helena raspberry begins in mid-July and continues until frost. The canes are strong, greenish-brown, with few thorns. The berries are elongated, blunt-conical, pale red in color. Berry weight - 5 g, taste is very sweet and pleasant. The berries are used for processing, freezing, preserving, and fresh consumption.
Primeberry® Delizia
An early everbearing raspberry variety. The bushes are vigorous, with weak thorns, leaves are large, rich green. The berries are large, round-oval, with drupelets firmly attached. The harvest period lasts 4-5 weeks. Fruit weight - from 5 to 10 g, taste is sweet, classic raspberry. The color is bright pink, attractive. The first harvest is already in mid-June.
Delbar® Manifique
Bush height - about 2 m, thorns are soft, canes are powerful and flexible. The leaves are corrugated, light green. The berries are dense yet soft, weight - from 4 to 8 g. The drupelets are homogeneous and firmly attached. Color is rich red. The berries are sweet and sugary, and due to their dense flesh, they are suitable for long-distance transport. Frost resistance of Delbar® Manifique is down to -27°C. Yield - up to 5 kg of berries per season. The variety rarely gets sick, but regular pest control treatments are recommended.
Prospera
The ripening period is mid-early, the harvest is gathered in mid or late June. The berries are elongated conical, red-pink in color. The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant. Fruit weight - 3-7 g. For good yield, raspberries must be trained and pruned, otherwise Prospera may become diseased. The variety is grown mainly in temperate climates.
New Raspberry Varieties from Dutch Breeding
Dutch varieties are famous for their large and juicy fruits. Raspberries adapt excellently to European growing conditions and show stable yields.
Mapema
A high-yielding everbearing variety. The bushes are vigorous, up to 2 m tall. The canes are straight and powerful. The berries are dense and fleshy, average weight - 6 g. Color is dark red, glossy. The berries detach easily from the stem without crumbling. Fruiting begins in July and continues until the first frost. The taste is delicate and sweet, with a pleasant raspberry aroma. Yield - up to 2 kg per 1 m². The purpose of the Mapema variety is universal.
Kwanza
The bush is compact, about 2 m tall. Fruiting is extended - from late August until the first frosts. The leaves are large, there are a small number of thorns on the canes. The berries weigh 5-6 g, the taste is sweet and juicy. During transportation, the fruits retain their integrity and do not darken during storage. The stated yield is 40-48 t/ha. The variety is resistant to pests, diseases, and adverse weather conditions.
Low-Growing Varieties
The height of low-growing plants is no more than 1 m. Such shrubs are indispensable if the garden plot is small and there is no possibility to grow spreading and tall crops.
Generalissimo
The canes grow at a slight incline and are covered with thorns. The berries are elongated, large, weighing from 8 to 14 g each. The taste is sweet and aromatic, the flesh is pleasant and dense. The fruits do not crumble during harvest and are suitable for transportation. The Generalissimo raspberry prefers fertile and light soils, so it is grown mainly in Southern Europe.
Autumn Beauty
An everbearing variety, bush height - about 1.3 m. The bushes grow compactly, with medium foliage. The berries are red, dense, taste sweet. Fruiting is uniform, each plant yields from 5 to 7 kg of berries per season. Autumn Beauty raspberries are suitable for fresh consumption, processing, and preserving. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, aphids, and raspberry beetles.
Yellow Raspberry Varieties
Yellow and orange raspberries are always particularly popular among gardeners. These beautiful and original berries decorate the garden and look attractive in jellies or jams.
Valentina
Bush height - up to 2 m, cane spread is medium. Few thorns, leaves are light green. Berry weight - 5-7 g, shape is blunt-conical. Color is yellow-apricot, with a pinkish tint. The taste is dessert-like, sweet, without acidity. Valentina is resistant to fungal and bacterial diseases, yield - 2-3 kg per season. This variety is grown in Southern and Central Europe.
Alpine Gold
This raspberry gets its name from its pleasant flesh. A mid-season variety, winter-hardy and undemanding to grow. Bush height - up to 1.5 m, leaves are medium-sized, with slight pubescence. The canes are flexible, upright. Berry weight - about 4.5 g, color is yellow with an orange hue. The taste and aroma are sweet, gently berry-like. Alpine Gold is not demanding on growing conditions, yield - up to 2 kg per plant. This raspberry is used for processing, cooking, freezing. After harvest, the berries are also excellent fresh.
Black Raspberry Varieties
Black raspberry is a novelty for European gardens. Externally, the berry resembles a blackberry, but the taste is classic raspberry.
Bristol
Bushes are powerful and spreading, up to 3 m tall. For growing this variety, choose spacious, well-lit areas. Berry weight - about 5 g, color is blue-black. The taste is pleasant, sweetish. The plant is demanding on soil composition, so it is planted in fertile regions of Southern Europe. Yield - up to 5 kg per bush.
Black Jewel
A winter-hardy and undemanding variety suitable for cooler climates. Average bush height - 2.5 m. Leaves are dark green, canes with slight pubescence.
Attention! Other popular black varieties among gardeners include: Black Jewel, Luck, and Ember. Their cultivation is no different from caring for classic red or pink raspberries.
Berry weight of Black Jewel is 2 g, shape is blunt-conical elongated. The taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is rich, berry-like. Yield - about 3.9 kg per bush.
Conclusion
Before planting, it is recommended to study the types of raspberries, popular varieties, and their characteristics. For example, the Capital variety is suitable for growing in most European climates, has immunity to diseases, while Helena is ideal for processing. In colder regions, early-ripening varieties are grown, in the south - late-ripening ones. Everbearing raspberries are popular among many gardeners - they yield crops several times per season.