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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: GrannieAnnie on January 27, 2008, 23:30:58

Title: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on January 27, 2008, 23:30:58
I planted some Autumn Gold raspberries which were supposed to be very sweet.
They've been in at least 3-4 yrs now, very sturdy healthy canes and loaded with fruit but it isn't sweet or aromatic like all our reds. Even the birds don't bother with them.

I was wondering if it is the soil where they're located
that is the problem. They are near a blue spruce tree. Does pH or lack of some mineral
effect sweetness? Or is it just poor over-rated stock?
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: manicscousers on January 28, 2008, 11:14:50
don't know but I'm in two minds about pulling our autumn gold up as I don't like the flavour as much as the red ones  :)
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: Dadnlad on January 28, 2008, 11:36:10
Just done exactly that this w/e Manics  :(
We were given half a dozen Fallgold(?) a few years back, they crop fine, dont need netting, are sweet enough, but just dont have that 'raspberry' taste they should have   ::)
We've tried em all sorts of ways, and jam and wine, but they just dont match up to our Autumn Bliss, so we've had em out and donated them to a fellow plotter   ;)
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: OllieC on January 28, 2008, 11:38:43
They're meant to be a sharper version of Bliss, aren't they?
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: Deb P on January 28, 2008, 12:26:35
I planted some of the yellow fruiting 'Allgold' last year, they fruited in the late summer/autumn and I was quite impressed with their flavour! Mine were mulched with quite a lot of mushroom compost, and fed with liquid seaweed, ? that made much difference? They are planted at the end of a row of Autumn Bliss planted by the previous plot holder, which I suspect are coming to the end of their shelf life as the fruits are quite small now.
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: flowerlady on January 28, 2008, 12:29:57
Is there a preferred compost for rasps??  :-X :-\
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: Jon Munday on January 28, 2008, 12:52:46
The soil type can affect the flavour of any fruit and veg but if you say your other Raspberry variety is ok then I would say that the variety is at fault and not the soil.
Ref Muching A 2-3 inch mulch of well rotten compost does the trick does not need to be anything specific.
Regards
Jon
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: jennym on January 29, 2008, 16:42:17
Raspberries don't mind a slightly acidic soil, I wouldn't lime them.
But must agree with Jon as to the variety being at fault - have had  a few yellow raspberry plants in the same area as Joan J, and I really don't rate them either for taste or cropping.
Title: Re: Does soil effect sweetness in raspberries?
Post by: Jon Munday on January 29, 2008, 20:10:27
I have a row of Octavia and this is by far our favourite variety. Had a huge crop off them last year too.
One I would recommend
Jon