Ezhemalina is an unpretentious and fruitful hybrid that will become a pleasant and useful addition to your garden. It requires almost no maintenance, and gives a lot of berries. We will learn how to plant this crop in the garden, what is good about it, and how to get big yields from it.
Jemalina can be pink to deep purple.
Ezhemalina taste with sourness
Jemalina berries are larger than plain raspberries
History of appearance
Ezhemalina is a hybrid obtained by crossing two popular berry crops - raspberries and blackberries. The hybrid berry tastes like both parental forms. But, unlike sweet raspberries, yogurt fruits are always slightly sour.
For the first time, the hybrid was obtained in America in 1883, in the California city of Santa Cruz. This happened on the garden plot of a certain James Logan, he was a judge, but in his free time he was engaged in the selection of berry crops.
In honor of its creator, the hybrid is often called the logan berry. The new culture did not become popular, as it did not have high taste. But the bred plant was unpretentious and productive, they began to use it to obtain new hybrids.
Ezhemalina: main characteristics
Breeding new varieties of ezhemalina, breeders strove, first of all, to improve the properties of raspberries. The hybrid is very similar to common raspberries, but surpasses it in many respects - frost resistance, drought resistance and yield.
The appearance and features of the plant
In appearance, ezhemalina resembles one of the parental forms, it all depends on whose properties the plant got the most. The external signs of a hybrid depend on the variety - the plant may differ in height, size and color of berries.
Features of the hybrid:
- semi-spreading bushes, branches grow almost parallel to the ground or first up, and then slope down;
- flowers are large, pink or white;
- powerful roots, penetrating deep into the ground;
- the color of the fruit depends on the variety.
There are varieties of ezhemalina with thorns and without thorns. But unlike blackberries, the thorns of the hybrid are small.
Berries
Fruits are large, their average weight is 10 g. They are arranged on clusters in several pieces. They, like raspberries / blackberries, are assembled from small balls. The color of the fruit ranges from pink to deep purple hues. Fruit length - up to 5 cm, diameter - 2 cm.
Yield
The yield of the raspberry bush is 3 kg. This is an order of magnitude higher than that of raspberries - about 300 g of berries are harvested from it. High yields are a property of any sort of ezemalina, she got it from blackberries.
The hybrid begins to bloom in early May, and the first berries can be harvested in mid-June. Fruiting lasts about a month.
The number of berries harvested depends on how old the bush is - with age, the yield only grows.
What are the differences between raspberries and raspberries?
Raspberries and ezhemalina are very similar in appearance, their leaves and berries are almost identical - an inexperienced summer resident will not even find the difference. Differences can be noticed upon closer examination of the properties and characteristics of these crops.
The main differences between raspberries and raspberries:
- berries are twice as large and in most varieties are dark in color;
- blooms beautifully - the flowering of raspberry bushes is almost imperceptible;
- the roots penetrate much deeper into the soil;
- berries are sour;
- the structure of the fruit is denser - they do not let the juice in when washing;
- ezhemalin bush lives up to 10 years, raspberry roots die off after 3-4 years;
- large volume of hardwood;
- the need for pinching;
- the bushes are taller and spreading - the stems reach 3-4 m.
Advantages and disadvantages
Ezhemalina is significantly inferior in prevalence to raspberries - it does not manage to surpass the sweet berry in taste, which has long become an integral part of our household plots. Nevertheless, this culture has merits for which it is worth planting in your garden.
Pros:
- undemanding to growing conditions and unpretentious care;
- high productivity;
- large berries - they are much larger than those of raspberries;
- throughout the growing season, the plant looks decorative;
- tolerates moisture deficit well.
Minuses:
- sourness is present in the taste;
- loose fruits quickly choke and deteriorate, poorly adapted to transportation;
- in the heat of summer, the berries are “baked”, lose their juiciness, become dry and shriveled;
- the stems are covered with thorns that interfere with the collection of fruits;
- the bushes are tall and spreading, they have to be tied to trellises;
- grows rapidly - it is necessary to thin out the plantings.
The benefits and harms of ezemalina
Yazhmalina fruits are low-calorie, 100 g of fresh berries contain 55 kcal. They contain many vitamins PP, E, A, C, K, provitamin A, micro and macroelements - iron, selenium, calcium, sodium, copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus.
Useful properties of berries:
- improve overall health;
- prevent constipation;
- relieve gas and reduce intestinal spasms;
- thanks to antioxidants, they help in the fight against cancer and heart disease;
- improve bone density;
- reduce menstrual pain;
- prevent depression.
Jemalina berries are good for people with diabetes, they effectively lower blood sugar levels.
In folk medicine, not only the fruits of the ezemalina are used, but also its leaves and roots. Infusions are taken for colds and nervous excitability, decoctions of roots - from varicose veins.
Ezhemalina is contraindicated in:
- high acidity of the stomach;
- individual intolerance.
Popular varieties
Ezhemalina is represented by dozens of different varieties, differing from each other in appearance and characteristics. Further, the most popular hybrid varieties, each of which will become a worthy decoration for your garden:
Landing
The agricultural technique of planting all three crops - raspberries, blackberries and their hybrid, is almost identical. Ezhemalina takes root well, so there are no problems with planting it, the main thing is to follow the recommended planting scheme so that the bushes are not crowded later.
Optimal planting times
Yezhemalins are planted at the usual time for berry crops:
- in spring they are planted before bud break, in temperate latitudes this period occurs in April;
- in the fall - a few weeks before frost, the seedlings should have time to take root before their onset.
In northern latitudes, planting begins a couple of weeks later than in the middle zone. The timing of planting is influenced not only by the climate in the region, but also by the current weather. The hybrid takes root well, so it is planted at any time, even in summer. The main thing is that there is no extreme heat
Seat selection
Ezhemalina prefers to grow in partial shade. Under the sun's rays the berries “bake”, lose their juiciness and other commercial properties. But even in full shade, the bushes should not grow - their berries are too sour.
Site requirements:
- protected from the winds;
- well ventilated;
- located on a small hill;
- light and fertile soils.
The culture grows well on loams. It can bear fruit well on acidic soils, but only if wood ash is regularly applied.
A couple of weeks before planting, the site is dug onto a shovel bayonet, removing the roots of weeds, stones, and other debris. If necessary, sand or clay is introduced into heavy clay and sandy soils, respectively. If the soil is not fertile, you can add humus or humus - a bucket per 1 sq. m.
Sapling selection
Yezhemaly saplings are bought in agricultural shops and garden nurseries, only there they sell certified planting material.
How to choose a quality seedling:
- Pay attention to the condition of the roots. If they are moist, firm and well developed, the seedling is healthy.
- At least two stems should extend from the roots.
- There is a green stem under the bark. It should have multiple buds.
For long-term transportation, the roots are wrapped in a cloth; they can be in a plastic wrap for a couple of hours, no more.
If the seedlings have already been purchased, and the weather is not suitable for planting, they are taken to the cellar or buried in the ground.
Landing
It is recommended to plant it in rows, leaving 1 m of free space between adjacent seedlings. The distance between adjacent rows is about 2 m. This planting scheme allows the bushes to get enough light, without which there are no good harvests.
Landing order:
- Prepare the seedlings for planting - soak them in water for 24 hours, and before planting, dip them in a mess of clay, manure and water. Seedlings with closed roots - just water in containers and remove after an hour.
- Dig planting holes of 40x40x40 cm according to the scheme 1x2 m. Mix the upper fertile soil obtained by digging a hole with humus. Place pebbles or other drainage material on the bottom with a layer of 10 cm.
- Pour a layer of soil on top of the drainage - enough to fill the hole up to half.
- Place a seedling in the center of the hole. Spread out the roots carefully - none should bend. The root collar should be just above ground level.
- Cover the roots with a mixture prepared from the top fertile soil layer and humus.
- Compact the soil and water. Trim the shoots down to 30 cm.
When planting ezemalins in autumn, do not overuse organic matter, for example, chicken droppings - such fertilization causes rapid growth of the aboveground part of the plant, and this reduces resistance to frost.
Features of care and cultivation
Any variety of ezhemalina is characterized by endurance and unpretentiousness, therefore it does not require much trouble. The only difference in labor intensity is the pruning and garter of the plant.
Watering and feeding
A hybrid of blackberries and raspberries is able to endure dry periods, it needs watering during planting and 2 weeks after it.
Abundant watering is needed only during the formation and ripening of berries, as well as during periods of long absence of rain. The rest of the time, the hybrid grows well without watering, it has enough precipitation.
Fertilizers are applied 2 years after planting, and then planting is fertilized with a frequency of 1 time in 2-3 years. There are no special dressings for the raspberries, they use the same fertilizers as for raspberries.
How to feed the hybrid:
- manure - 3-5 kg per 1 sq. m;
- potash and phosphorus fertilizers - 20 g of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 1 sq. m.
The fertilizer dosage may vary depending on the type of soil on which the jemalina is grown.
Trimming and garter
Ezhemalina is prone to overgrowth, its long shoots sag under the weight of large berries. To lighten the load on the branches, the bush is tied to trellises. Otherwise, it will creep to the sides, and the berries will shrink.
The height of the trellises is at least 2-3 m. Wire or nylon line is pulled on the supports in five rows. Fruit-bearing shoots are tied to the upper "floors", the remaining branches are attached to the lower ones.
Yezhemalina is regularly pruned:
- Autumn. Pruning is carried out after harvest, towards the end of autumn, but before frost. If frost hits, the branches will become fragile, and if you try to cut, they will break. When pruning, remove all broken, dry and diseased shoots.
- In the spring. The bushes are pruned after the snow melts. At this time of the year, you additionally have to remove branches damaged by frost - if the bushes did not hide and still froze. After pruning, the upper processes are pinched.
Mulching
Mulching - sprinkling the soil with material that prevents the growth of weeds and the evaporation of moisture. This simple procedure greatly simplifies the care of the beds and reduces water consumption for irrigation.
A variety of materials are used as mulch. You can simply sprinkle the soil with sawdust, peat, leaves, etc.
Example of a two-layer mulching:
- Make the first layer of newspaper or cardboard.
- Pour ash, rotted manure and cut grass on top of the paper.
The thickness of the mulch is 10-15 cm. The paper will decompose over time, and the rest of the components will rot into humus, filling the earth with nutrients.
Reproduction
Ezhemalina is propagated vegetatively. This is a hybrid, therefore, the seed method of propagation is not applicable to it - it does not convey varietal characteristics.
Breeding options:
- Green cuttings. The procurement is carried out in August. Cut off 20-40 cm of tops and planted in the ground - in a ditch 20-25 cm deep. Sprinkle with earth on top. By the next year, each cutting will produce 3-4 new plants ready to be transplanted to a permanent location.
- Lignified cuttings. In the fall, cut off shoots 20 cm long, they should have at least 2 buds. The cuttings are immersed in water for 24 hours, and then planted in the ground to a depth of 20 cm, leaving 2 buds on the surface.
- Root layers. In the spring, the bush is dug up and the roots are divided into shoots 10-15 cm long. Then they are planted in the ground and watered. Planting depth - 20 cm.
Autumn care and preparation for winter
In the fall, the culture is prepared for winter. Preparatory measures are especially important in conditions of little snowy winters. The bushes are cut, sprayed and covered with insulation materials.
In autumn, ezhemalin is treated with a decoction of nettle or field horsetail - for the prevention of diseases.
Almost all varieties of ezhemalina are cold-resistant and do not need winter shelter, especially in regions with warm winters. But there are varieties that are less resistant to frost; in the first years of life they have to be sheltered for the winter. If there is a lot of snow in the region in winter, then it is quite enough to protect the shoots from freezing.
How to cover ezemalina:
- Remove the bushes from the trellises by removing all branches from them.
- Lay the stems along the supports and cover them on top with peat, sawdust, straw, fallen leaves.
In the spring, as soon as it gets warmer, the shelter is removed. If this is not done in time, the bushes can be oppressed.
Diseases and pests
Ezhemalina is not prone to disease. But in adverse conditions, it can be affected by the same diseases as raspberries.
What culture hurts:
- Anthracnose. Brown spots appear on the branches. The causative agent is a fungus. The affected branches are cut off and burned. The bushes are sprayed with "Fundazol" or "Topsin".
- Gray rot. A whitish coating appears on the leaves and fruits. The bushes are sprayed with fungicides at least 20 days before harvest.
Ezhemalina can also suffer from verticillary wilting, rust and powdery mildew, which can be dealt with by contact drugs of a wide spectrum of action.
Prevention methods:
- In the spring, the bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux liquid. After 10 days, the treatment is repeated.
- In the fall, fallen leaves are raked to destroy the larvae of pests.
- The earth is dug up in the fall to a depth of 15 cm.
- During budding, the bushes are sprayed with an infusion of tansy - 2 kg of fresh or 0.7 kg of dry raw materials are diluted in 10 liters of water, boiled for half an hour, insisted for a day and 10 liters of water are added.
- Once every two weeks, the wilted tops are cut off and burned.
- Prevents waterlogging of the soil.
Weevils, crimson beetles and galitsa are most often affected by ezhemalin. To prevent damage, the bushes are sprayed with "Karbofos" or "Fufanon" during the formation of buds.
Harvesting and storage
Jemalina berries ripen unevenly, so the harvest is stretched from July to autumn. Harvested only in dry and cloudy weather. They are carefully torn off and put into shallow plastic containers - in them the harvested berries will be stored.
No more than 1 kg of berries are put into one container so that the fruits do not choke. They are stored in a cold room, or better in a refrigerator, in which the berries retain their commercial properties for up to 20 days. Optimum temperature - 0 ° С, humidity - 90%.
If the berries are to be transported, they are plucked along with the fruit - it is pinched off with your fingers or carefully cut off.
Procurement methods:
- Freezing. Only dry, whole berries are laid for storage.They are laid out on a pallet, frozen, and then poured into cellophane bags.
- Blanks. Jam, compotes are made from ezhemalina, ground with sugar, syrups are made, canned in their own juice.
Ezhemalina, without pretending to take the place of the popular raspberry, is ready to fill the niche of an unpretentious shrub that grows without much care. Its berries are not so tasty, but there are a lot of them, and the harvest is guaranteed - the hybrid bears fruit in the most unfavorable conditions.
Author of the publication
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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