Raspberries of the Galaxy variety: description of the variety, advantages and disadvantages, care, yield, photo

Raspberry Galaxy - a promising new product or a gimmick variety for marketers

An essential component of traditional gardening is growing raspberries.
Without this fragrant berry, there is no season. This berry is magnificent in every way: healthy, tasty, beautiful. To get a rich harvest, you don’t need to take up a lot of space on your plot. Intensive agricultural technology plus a good variety is enough to provide a family with fragrant fruits.

Description of the variety

Raspberry Galaxy is a standard variety. This means that the plant has a tree-like form with powerful shoots and long laterals formed mainly on the upper half of the stem. The variety was bred by Moscow breeders under the leadership of V.V. Kichins. The climatic conditions of different regions are taken into account; the Galaxy grows magnificently and bears fruit both in the north, in the central zone and in the south of the country.

The variety is a summer variety, but has signs of remontability. Up to 20% of the total number of shoots, in hot autumn conditions, form berries on the tops. In terms of ripening time, the variety is classified as mid-early.

The standard bush is powerful, beautiful, grows up to two meters in height. The plant has a high ability to shoot. On average, one plant has up to a dozen replacement shoots and up to five root suckers. There are no thorns on the stems.

The berries are large, according to advertising brochures up to 18 -25 g, according to gardeners 4-6 g. The elongated shape in combination with a dark red shine produces an indelible effect. The taste is exactly what gardeners expect from real domestic raspberries: bright, sweet, rich with a pleasant strong aroma. With excellent transportability, the berries retain their juiciness. The drupes are the same size, not large.

Begins to bear fruit in mid-July. Berry picking continues for a month. In total, during this time, raspberries manage to produce five waves of harvest. One tree-like plant produces up to 12 kg of ideal fruits per season (again, data from the advertising brochure). Real yield indicators are 3-4 kg. from the bush. Even taking into account the yield and fruit size indicators obtained from gardeners, it should be noted that the variety is large-fruited and is perfect for personal consumption. But only for personal use because the skin of the drupes is very delicate and the Galaxy berries are poorly transported and stored, therefore, the variety cannot be considered by farms for industrial planting.

The Galaxy raspberry variety is universal: the berries can be eaten fresh, canned, or frozen

Productivity

Raspberry Galaxy is a mid-early variety, characterized by productivity and stability of fruiting. The plant begins to fully form berries in the 4th year of development. But fruits are also formed on young shoots, the length of which is about 1.5 m.

The culture is summer, but has the ability to bloom again in hot autumn conditions (fruits are formed on the tops).

The first fruiting is observed in July, the plant produces 5 waves of harvest. During the season, you can collect up to 12 kg of berries from a bush. It is impossible to provide unambiguous statistics; in practice, gardeners manage to collect about 3-8 kg.

We recommend that you read the Difference in autumn and spring planting of blackberries

a brief description of

A powerful raspberry tree has a lot of wonderful advantages:

• the shoots are powerful, do not bend from the wind and the weight of the fruit;
• the berries are large, dense and juicy;
• the taste is sweet, the aroma is bright;
• When preserved and frozen, the fruits do not lose their properties.

• high demands on soil fertility and timely watering;
• poor transportability and keeping quality;
• lack of uniform melon crops in terms of yield and fruit size;
• Average frost resistance; in addition, standard-type shoots are difficult to bend down for the winter.

Description

Galaxy - a large-fruited standard-type variety stands out among others with its very high yield. Mid-late ripening. The berries are very large and visually attractive, elongated, burgundy-red, shiny, the drupes are small, uniform, the berries are dense, transportable. The taste of the berries is sweet with a pleasant “raspberry” aroma, juicy pulp and a few small seeds. The bushes of the variety are medium-sized, 1.5-2.0 m tall, very compressed, powerfully developed, semi-repairable, forming 8-10 replacement shoots and 4-5 root suckers. Recommended for cultivation in all horticultural zones of Russia.

Landing

The galaxy requires light, fertile soils. The optimal acidity level is 5.7-6.5 pH. The area must be level. Lowlands, steep slopes, and hills have a bad effect on growth and yield.

A distance of 1.5–2 m is left between the rows, and 70 cm between plants in the tape. This scheme will allow the root system and the above-ground part of the plant to develop well without oppressing neighboring bushes.

Be sure to prepare a “pie” from the soil substrate, which is used to fill the hole:

• The bottom layer (20 cm) consists of drainage from weathered wood, sunflower or corn stalks, and chopped tree branches. This agrotechnical technique is designed to replenish the raspberry plant with nutrients for several years to come.
• The middle layer consists of fresh plant tops and leaves. It is a source of nitrogen and minerals.
• The last layer is filled with rotted manure mixed with soil, with the addition of a glass of ash.

A seedling is planted in such a soil mixture and watered well. The plant will not need additional feeding in the next two to three years.

Advantages and disadvantages

• The advantages of the Galaxy raspberry include:
• high yield rates;
• stability of fruiting;
• satisfactory frost resistance;
• a well-developed root system contributes to high survival rate during transplantation;
• disease resistance;
• good taste;
• pleasant appearance;
• large berries;
• strong branches withstand bad weather conditions well;
• universal use of fruits.

• Disadvantages of the variety:
• poor tolerance to excess and lack of moisture;
• poor keeping quality;
• low transportability.

Did you know? Russia is the leader in raspberry production on the world market, supplying over 200 tons of berries.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

The Galaxy does not tolerate drought well, as a result the crop becomes smaller , the shoots become weak, the leaves become small, and the bush may die. The frost resistance of this raspberry is within normal limits; it tolerates frosts down to -30°C well, but during thaws moisture can evaporate from the shoots.

The problem can be caused by a high groundwater level - the root system can freeze even with a slight drop in the mercury column. In harsh climatic conditions, shoots need to be carefully wrapped for the winter.

Productivity and fruiting

According to gardeners, the average yield per bush is 4–8 kg and, under particularly favorable conditions, can reach 18 kg. It bears fruit with large, elongated fruits, dark red in color with a glossy sheen, weighing up to 18 g, occasionally up to 25 g each.

The berries have a sweet taste and pleasant aroma. The pulp is juicy and dense, red in color, with small seeds inside. The fruiting period is variable; from mid-July to mid-August you can harvest up to 5 times. Fruits on young 1.5-meter shoots. It begins to bear fruit fully in the 4th year of life.

Growing and care

Standard raspberries are powerful, the shoots do not break. But gardeners tie the “trees” to supports to make it easier to care for and collect berries. In addition, Galaxy agricultural technology includes watering, pruning, mulching, fertilizing and weed removal.

Watering

During the dry season, water raspberries abundantly. The soil should be moistened to a depth of 40 cm. Much attention is paid to watering in May, during the period of fruit formation and growth. Drip irrigation is optimal for large areas.

Trimming

Sanitary pruning of Galaxy raspberries is carried out immediately after wintering, before sap flow begins. Pinch the tops of branches, remove frozen, dried, broken stems. In the fall, all fruit-bearing shoots are removed, and the fruit-bearing tops of branches that have shown signs of repair are cut off.

The Galaxy variety does not produce a lot of root shoots. However, rationing must be carried out so that the raspberries grow in neat rows and do not grow chaotically. The first revision of the shoots is carried out in June.

Top dressing

Intensive agricultural technology provides for 3–4 fertilizing per year at different times:

• In March, nitrogen is needed, 15–20 g of urea per meter of planting “tape”. A glass of wood ash under the bush will enrich the soil with potassium and other microelements.
• In May, when replacement shoots are actively growing and preparing for flowering, the best feeding will be organic matter. A solution of bird droppings (1:20) or mullein (1:10) is suitable.
• In June, during the period of flowering and ovary growth, the plant needs potassium and phosphorus.

For fertilizing, it is easiest to use ready-made complex fertilizers.

Preparing for winter

The galaxy, despite its frost resistance, even in the conditions of the Moscow region, and even more so in the northern regions, needs careful shelter.

The roots are mulched with fallen leaves, hay, and peat. The above-ground part is bent down and covered with thick agrofibre, coniferous spruce branches, and other available insulation materials.

Landing Features

Properly planted raspberry bushes will ensure a good harvest.

Deadlines

You can plant Galaxy in the spring, but it is preferable to do it in the fall , the most suitable time is from mid-September to mid-October. Then the plant can prepare for winter and start growing in time in the spring. However, in regions where temperatures below -30°C are possible in winter, it is better to postpone planting to spring.

Important! It is better not to grow Galaxy in the same place for more than 8 years.

Choosing a suitable location

Slopes in the north, east or west with sandy loam soil and an acidity level of 4.5–6.5 pH are best suited for planting.

This arrangement will protect the bushes from spring overheating and freezing after the thaw. Groundwater should not be closer than 1 m to the surface, a distance of 1.5 m is best.

Selection and preparation of planting material

The following requirements apply to raspberry seedlings:

• they should be sold in specialized retail outlets or nurseries;
• they must have a healthy appearance;
• the roots should not be overdried;
• purchased seedlings must be transported tied, laid out along the sides, which must be insulated to soften them;
• For transportation purposes, the roots of the seedlings must be watered and tied with a bag.

Reproduction

It is advisable to propagate the Galaxy variety by above-ground and root cuttings and root suckers.

Stem cuttings, 25-30 cm long, with three strong buds, are cut in the fall and added dropwise. For the winter, cover with film and insulation. In spring the cover is removed. With such agricultural technology, cuttings quickly take root.

Root cuttings are prepared before wintering, deepened into the ground, and watered. After a year, ready-made seedlings are obtained. With this method, it is important not to overdo it. No more than 25% of the roots can be removed painlessly for an adult healthy plant.

The resulting root shoots with a lump of earth are removed from the mother plant from June to late autumn.

Care

In order not to overdo it with watering, it is recommended to remove the soil near the bush to the depth of your palm and squeeze it in your fist. If a lump forms, there is no need to water it; no, pour 2 liters of water onto 1 bush. To preserve moisture, it is very useful to mulch the soil around with peat. Usually you need to water when there has been no rain for 15 days. The drip irrigation method gives good results.

For feeding, it is recommended to use nitrophoska, ammophoska, ammonium nitrate or urea in the amount of 40–60 g per 1 m². They can be replaced with organic fertilizers or used in parallel with organic matter. As an option - a shovel of mullein, diluted in a bucket of water with the addition of a large spoonful of urea or saltpeter, this mixture is poured 1 liter per bush.

Manure is applied once every 2–3 years at the rate of 2–3 buckets per 1 m². Potassium chloride is added annually at the rate of 30–50 g per 1 m². Foliar feeding consists of spraying with a 0.2% urea solution with the addition of microelements. It is necessary to regularly weed around the bush. The variety needs pruning of last year's shoots. At the end of May - beginning of June, it is necessary to remove the shoots, and leave seven of the total number of replacement shoots.

For pruning purposes, the thickest and thinnest branches are removed. In order for raspberries to grow better, they are tied to a trellis or to pegs. During the formation of the bush, 2 weeks after planting, you need to pinch the top by 10–15 cm. It is also recommended to cut off the root shoots, which weaken the plant, with a shovel.

Reviews

I read the book by V.V. Kichin "Large-fruited raspberries of Russia." There are many varieties described in it, but there is not a word about the Galaxy. It turns out V.V. Kichina himself didn’t know that he developed such a variety? Somehow I doubt buying seedlings of this variety, it’s kind of a pig in a poke.

Galaxy is a mysterious variety. If we summarize the data from gardeners and nurseries, we get a strong average with sufficient yield, good taste and size of fruits. The variety is still not widespread, so it can either reward you with unprecedented harvests or disappoint you.

Reproduction methods

You can propagate the Galaxy in the following ways:

1. Lignified offspring . In September, annual lignified shoots are dug up at a distance of 30 cm from the main bush, preserving the 12-centimeter roots. Select those who have no signs of disease. The leaves are torn off from them.
2. Green offspring . In the spring, a green shoot 10–20 cm high without signs of disease is selected at a distance of 40 cm from the main bush, dug up, placed in a garden bed, and planted in the main place in the fall.
3. Root cuttings . Having retreated 40 cm from the main bush, a root with branches with a diameter of 2 mm is dug out of the ground, cut into 10-centimeter pieces with 2 buds, which are planted. This method is suitable for propagating diseased plants whose stems must be destroyed or src=»https://fermer.blog/media/res/8/6/1/0/9/86109.psmlpo.jpg» class=»aligncenter» width=”830″ height=”414″[/img]
4. Green cuttings . In May or June, you need to cut off shoots that have at least 2 leaves and 8 cm in length, soak them in a 0.1% Heteroauxin solution, plant them in a greenhouse for 4 weeks, and transplant them to a permanent place.
5. Dividing the bush. The bush is divided into 4–5 parts so that each part has at least 2 healthy young branches and a developed root system.

Raspberry Galaxy - characteristics

The description available in open sources is quite modest. There is little information on the characteristics of the variety; it comes from the originators. Reviews and opinions, even on a private basis, not to mention data on tests in field conditions, are extremely lacking. Content with little, about luxurious large-fruited, so-called standard - a characteristic, a description without a claim to absolute truth.

Moscow variety, authored by V.V. Kichins are presumably one of the many hybrid forms. Medium-early ripening, in a favorable mild climate, sometimes exhibits remontant traits - about 20% of plants can bear repeated fruit at the tops.

The yield is high - according to some sources, up to 4 kg per bush, according to others, unverified - from 12 to 18 kg. Of course, the last figure is questioned and greatly exaggerated. It is possible that such a result was obtained during testing at experimental sites, but it is most likely beyond the power of a simple gardener to bring it to life.

In the photo, the ripening Galaxy raspberries are a sight to behold: an elegant elongated shape, the drupes are large and uniform.

• Bush so-called standard type (about why they call it that and whether it actually exists - below), the height of powerful strong shoots is from 1.7 to 2 m, with high agricultural technology a little higher. Productive, with enormous growth energy - it forms 7-10 replacement shoots, more than 5-7 root shoots. Often, such an ability to reproduce is considered a disadvantage: it is more than enough for breeding, but there is a lot of extra work on rationing.
• Winter hardiness is moderate; in central Russia, with a lack of snow, at temperatures below - 30 C, bending is required - for example, in the Moscow region, the procedure is mandatory, according to reviews, as in the north of Belarus. In the southern regions, in Ukraine, it winters without bending down or shelter.
• Lateral branching is abundant, laterals are long and powerful.
• The berries are very large, shiny, 4-6 g in average weight, individual ones above 15 g. They will surprise you with their dark red, closer to burgundy color, and will delight you with an intense aroma. I am pleased with the small seeds and the very beautiful shape - elongated, ideal, not lumpy, but even. It is not prone to crumbling - an obvious advantage in comparison with large-fruited drupes that tend to crumble.

Its disadvantages are that the berry is too juicy, not particularly suitable for transportation or wounding, which initially reduces the authority of the variety in the eyes of those practicing commercial cultivation. For a gardener, the lack is made up for in size and dessert taste - many summer residents want to buy it simply for collection, while the farmer is looking for alternatives.

Moderate yield - unfortunately, some not particularly competent agricultural technicians without experience were unable to find an approach to the Galaxy, or their opinion is biased, but according to numerous reviews, no one saw 18 kg from a bush. And he doesn’t expect to see, including fruits above 18-20 G: this is no longer a raspberry, this is a strawberry! Standard, or rather, good 3-4 kg with good agricultural technology, she will probably give. Achieving more is the lot of experimenters. It is difficult to bend for the winter - tall, rigid shoots are not particularly willing to bend.

There are many more advantages: huge, without exaggeration, fruits, a pleasant sweet taste with a hint of subtle sourness, which only expands the taste gamut, a real raspberry aroma, which, let's be honest, many overseas new industrial products lack. This is why summer residents choose it - even if it’s not a bucket from a bush, but it’s tasty, real! Tall shoots are really powerful, do not droop, do not sag at the tops, do not fall from storms and wind - a trellis, i.e. at least a minimal garter is still needed, but even without it the plants resemble a real tree: tall, powerful, erect.

About care

Caring for the Galaxy variety is common, no matter how surprised the gardener is: the standard structure of the bush is just a figure of speech and an advertising gimmick. This is not a tree. This is how they describe powerful, tall bushes of a raised type, with a small number of branches of the lower tier, usually starting a little higher than most so-called. ordinary varieties. The crop is no different: caring for it is exactly the same as for ordinary summer-fruiting raspberries.

Planting using the bush method at a distance of 1.5 m between the bushes so that they do not shade each other and do not form an impenetrable thicket due to the lush growth. Between rows, up to 3 m is usually left. With the trench method, a smaller distance is left between plants, but not by much - thickening is fraught with loss of productivity. Let us remind you about wintering: densely planted raspberries are very, very difficult to bend down.

Giving a harvest on the shoots of last year, in the central, southern regions of Ukraine, in the south of Russia, it will surprise you with repeated fruiting. Not too abundant, not frequent - it is noted on no more than 20-30% of plantings. The crowns that have fertilized are cut off.

As for pruning in general, during the traditional growing season, the agricultural technology of cultivation is no different from traditional schemes for working with single-fruiting varieties.

Sometimes to increase the number of so-called. standard tops, lateral branching at a height of 50-70 cm, young shoots of the current year are pinched. This is done approximately in early to mid-May. The event should not be carried out if you have to bend down the plants: a voluminous bush is more difficult to manipulate.

Susceptible to fallout during early frosts below -25...-30 C in the Moscow region, especially with subsequent thaws, even more harmful than low temperatures. Before the hard stems have time to become lignified, they need to be bent down earlier than usual: in September, when the leaves are still green - this is what professional farmers who grow crops in unfavorable climates advise. Tied in bunches or bent into arcs, the vine should be completely under the snow. Considering that these are not thin branches, but a bush that bends tightly, this is problematic, but possible - with some skill.

Reviews

It is not particularly widespread, but it is known, known from different sides, with good and with bad - raspberry Galaxy has received mixed reviews from gardeners and farmers, to say the least: contradictory. The taste, size, aroma are top notch, you can’t take that away. Things are worse with density, especially after rain - such a berry will not go to the fresh market, much less for industrial cultivation. However, in small-scale production it is used to expand the range.

Winter hardiness is the main drawback. Unfortunately, despite all the attempts of breeders and not only domestic ones, it was not possible to develop an absolutely frost-resistant variety that does not require a trellis - the absolute has not been found, the cherished dream of the agrarian has not been found. And the Galaxy is no exception: without the measures described above, attacks as a result of freezing and flooding are possible in Moscow and the Moscow region, in the Urals, in Ufa and Samara, in the north of Belarus.

Otherwise, its fans are gardeners and summer residents who enjoy juicy fruits, prepare for future use, and collectors of varieties. On a more serious level, the attitude towards the variety is less enthusiastic - not to say skeptical. Experienced farmers are suspicious of hybrid forms, which are innumerable, untested, untested, and have not passed state variety testing.

Those about which there is too little information for analysis - reliable, verified, from trustworthy sources. That is why gardeners have to be content with artistic descriptions and reviews of owners as a private opinion. But they do not lose heart - if the climate is suitable, they do not need a commercial, industrial variety, if they are satisfied with the productivity and dessert taste, they do not look for good from good. Have a generous harvest!

What is a promising new product?

If Galaxy raspberry is a standard crop, it means:

• tree-shaped;
• with strong stems;
• long laterals that form on the upper half of the shoots.

Plants, taking into account the climate in different regions, received life thanks to the activities of Moscow breeders, led by V.V. Kichina.

Cultures like different latitudes:

Although the crop is summer, it has signs of remontancy, which are determined by 20% of the formation of berries on the tops, in hot autumn. This is a mid-early variety.

Standard bushes have a height of about 2 meters.

One bush can produce a dozen shoots. In addition, each bush can acquire up to 5 root suckers. Raspberries grow without thorns.

Advertisers urge you to buy the variety because of its berries weighing 18 - 25g. Gardeners say that the berries ripen 4 - x 6 - grams.

They are elongated in shape, dark red in shine, with an indelible taste effect:

• bright;
• sweet;
• saturated;
• with a pleasant aroma.

The plants are almost transportable, maintaining the juiciness of the berries. They have small drupes of the same size.

Fruiting begins in mid-July. The fruits are harvested for 1 month, with a five-wave yield. According to advertising, up to 12 kg can be harvested from one bush. In fact, from 3 to 4 kg.

The plants are large-fruited and are excellent for personal needs, because drupes have delicate skin and are not suitable for farm plantings. Fruits: canned, frozen, eaten fresh.