The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 19 Summer 2016/17 | Page 15

RASPBERRIES
good dose of well-rotted manure after
they have been pruned back in winter.
My raspberries are organic, and I will
definitely keep it that way. The aphids
and red spider mites do take a liking to
them but a weekly spray of the organic
sprays like Levo, Kobe and Silwet, have
kept all the nasties at bay. Unfortunately,
the birds have discovered this delicious
treat, which means putting up flapping
tinfoil across the bed to scare them away.
Watering
Raspberries, like most berries, like to be
watered. If you don’t have much water
but you still want to have your own
raspberry bush, they do well in pots, too!
Which variety is best suited to the
Zim climate?
There are two types of raspberries:
floricanes and primocanes. They grow
differently, and are therefore pruned
differently. Floricanes, which are spring
and summer-fruiting varieties, produce
high yields of fruit on canes grown the
year before. These varieties are not suited
for most areas in Zimbabwe, as they
need a very cold winter chill to break
dormancy in spring so I won’t go into
much detail on these.
Primocanes, which are known as autumn-
fruiting varieties, produce fruit at the
top of canes that grow in the current
season. Primocanes grow well in Zim
as they have a lower chill requirement
and will crop in warm regions. There are
two popular varieties: Autumn Bliss and
Heritage.
Pruning
Primocanes produce new canes/suckers
in spring and when they reach their full
height, they start blooming and will start
producing fruit. I have found that my
canes start producing fruit early in the
summer and I don’t have to wait long
for the autumn crop. The photo of my
beautiful red raspberry was actually taken
in October!
Once the cane has fruited, it dies back.
I like to cut back the canes after they
have died, or if you have a larger crop of
raspberries, you can prune them in winter
by cutting them right down. The most
important part of growing raspberries is
understanding that pruning is vital. You
need to prune them to reap the reward.
Trellising
As most primocanes don’t grow too high,
trellising is a means of keeping them tidy,
which makes them easier to harvest. The
floricanes, which grow taller, definitely
need trellising.
Harvesting raspberries
It is torture to watch a raspberry ripen,
as all you want to do is pick it and eat it
right then and there! When the colour
intensifies, that is the best time to pick
it and get the best flavours – don’t let
it go too deep a colour, as you would
have missed the moment! Always pick
raspberries in the morning, before it gets
too hot. If you plan on eating them that
day, keep them in the fridge and lay them
out on a plate to prevent bruising. I like to
freeze mine to build up a large collection
to make jam or raspberry coulis.
Serve and enjoy!
If you have the willpower to resist
guzzling them down before they reach
the kitchen, there are so many delicious
ways to serve up these heavenly berries.
A few of my favourites include having
them fresh with ice cream and chocolate
sauce, or for a delicious breakfast, try
muesli with Greek yoghurt, covered with
raspberries and honey drizzled over.
My all-time favourite thing to do with
raspberries is to make a raspberry coulis,
which can be drizzled over ice cream,
yoghurt, and even cakes. Raspberry
coulis goes well with anything chocolate!
Raspberries in my garden
Raspberry coulis
1. Dissolve a teaspoon of honey into a
teaspoon of hot water.
2. Add the berries and honey into the
blender – I like to add a squeeze of
lemon, too, but that is just personal
preference. Puree the mix.
3. If you have a sweet tooth, have a quick
taste to see if you need to add some more
honey and blend again.
4. Finally, strain through a sieve and put
in the fridge until it is ready to serve.
5. The coulis can keep a couple of days
in the fridge, or you can freeze it, but it is
best served fresh.
Raspberries for sale
Raspberries are sometimes available at:
Emerald Seedlings Nursery
Alpes Rd, Teviotdale, Harare
(opp Wingate Golf course)
Gill 0772 301 440
Cosmas 0772 382 081
Don’t let the suckers get out of control!
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