Description of the Himbo Top raspberry variety and yield, planting and care rules

Features of the raspberry variety

The large-fruited remontant raspberry variety Himbo Top is the result of the work of Swiss breeders. The variety is based on the Otm Bliss and Himbo Queen varieties.

The variety is not very widespread in Russia, since the only distributor is the Lubera company. The characteristic feature developed by breeders in the form of small formation of root shoots does not allow one to independently propagate a sufficient volume of fresh seedlings.

History of variety selection

The Himbo Top trademark is a Swiss raspberry variety that has a registration certificate and a patent. On the territory of the Russian Federation, Himbo Top raspberries are distributed only in those areas where Lubera has representative offices. This manufacturer is popular in the global agricultural planting materials market. Representative offices of the company supply raspberry seedlings of the Himbo Top variety to Russia and other CIS countries and neighboring countries.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the positive qualities of the variety are:

• no special requirements for soil characteristics;
• genetic resistance to most diseases and pests;
• abundant harvests of large berries;
• high resistance to transportation without loss of presentation;
• dessert balanced taste;
• resistance to shedding of ripe fruits;
• no pea crop;
• easy separation of the stalk from the berries.

Raspberry fruits of the Himbo Top variety.
Photo. Varietal disadvantages include low frost resistance. Growing crops in a cool climate will be difficult. Tall shoots need garter, otherwise, under the weight of large ripe berries, they bend towards the ground and break.

Raspberry Himbo Top (the description of the variety is given in the article for reference) has a big disadvantage - there must be a considerable area on the personal plot for growing this crop.

An adult bush acquires significant dimensions over time. Another minus is the difficulty of propagation due to the lack of root suckers, and therefore seedlings will have to be purchased each time for new plantings.

Reviews

I planted Himbo Top raspberries because they bear fruit late in the season. I was pleased. The berries are tasty and plentiful. I consider the disadvantage to be the presence of thorns, which always scratch your hands when harvesting. Children cannot pick raspberries. They don't even try.

I planted several bushes because the nursery highly recommended Himbo Top. Overall, I liked the raspberries, but I don’t think the variety is ideal. It is impossible to breed it yourself, and in bad weather you don’t really like the taste of the berries. Other remontant species are much more suitable. I don’t plan to get rid of the existing bushes, but I won’t plant new ones either.

I like the taste of raspberries. The yield is high, there are enough berries for fresh preparations and food. The grandchildren liked the variety, but the children themselves cannot pick the berries because of the thorns. Raspberries are very sharp and hard. There are 10 bushes growing on the site. I don't plan to plant yet. I think Himbo Top is a variety that should be combined with others. I don’t see it as the main one in raspberries

Raspberry Himbo Top is a remontant variety. It is good for those who do not plan to produce root shoots and want to keep the raspberry plant in a strictly limited area. If raspberry cultivation is intended for the sale of seedlings, then the Himbo Top variety is completely unsuitable.

Description of culture

The plants are tall, reaching 2-3 m in height. The shoots abundantly form fruitful lashes, which are strewn with large juicy berries. The dessert taste allows the harvest to be used both for fresh consumption and in the form of preserves, jams and preserves.

Despite their large size, the berries are well transported, which makes the variety attractive for industrial cultivation. And the possibility of harvesting 2 harvests per year additionally stimulates subsidiary farms to purchase this crop.

The root system is extensive, spreading widely deep into the soil, ensuring growth and abundant fruiting. The variety is distinguished by its high genetic resistance to attack by parasites, infection by fungi and bacteria.

Ripening period

The ripening time of berries varies depending on the cultivation method. When cultivated as an annual crop, the plant begins to bear fruit in early August. Fruiting on the shoots of the second year begins in June. This time difference allows you to harvest 2 waves of harvest in 1 year.

The ripening time varies depending on environmental conditions. In the central zone, the harvest begins to ripen only in August. While in the southern regions fruiting begins in mid-July.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Raspberry Himbo Top (the description of the variety will help determine the feasibility of growing the berry) is not frost-resistant. Growing in the Northern regions is almost impossible.

Lack of heat during the growing season leads to crushing of the berries and a decrease in taste.

Leaving plants to winter without additional measures will also not work. For normal wintering, a set of measures will be required, including the application of fertilizers, pruning of shoots and enhanced plant cover. This is the only way to preserve the culture in winter.

Due to its low requirements for watering, the variety tolerates short-term dry periods well without loss of yield. Periods of prolonged drought can greatly affect fruit yield and quality.

Appearance of plant and fruit

The varietal crop stands out for its large size. Some shoots grow up to 2.5 m. In the first year after planting, raspberries form up to 7 new shoots. In subsequent years, the number of shoots increases to 12. Each of them produces many fruiting shoots up to 70-80 cm long, evenly distributed throughout the bush.

The berries are rich red in color, weighing 10-12 g each. The cone-shaped fruits are easily separated from the stalks during harvesting. They do not lose their color after reaching ripeness. Sweet, sugary, dessert taste, with a pronounced raspberry aroma, accompanied by a pleasant sourness.

The leaf blade has slightly serrated edges and is medium in size, dark green in color and pinnately arranged. The leaf venation is reticular-neural, in which the lateral veins branch repeatedly, forming a network without loops on the leaf blade. The flowers are bisexual, white, form corymbs at the tops and racemes on the sides. First the upper ones bloom, then the lower ones.

Productivity

Raspberries bear fruit for 2 months. One plant can produce a yield of 3-5 kg ​​on a personal plot and up to 15 tons per hectare during industrial cultivation. Compliance with agrotechnical requirements affects the yield, but the application of fertilizing is of particular importance.

The yield is reduced by a lack of potassium fertilizers and an incorrectly chosen planting site. This variety loves the sun, which qualitatively affects the taste of the berries. Growing on the shady side imparts a sour taste to ripe fruits.

Harvesting and transportation

When harvesting, it is advised to take into account the fact that raspberries at the stage of ripeness and unripe fruit differ from each other only in strength and elasticity, but not in shade. Fruiting begins in the first ten days of August, and harvesting lasts 6–8 weeks. This depends on the environmental conditions where the raspberries are grown. It is advisable to collect them early in the morning when the berries are cool. The presence of external moisture on the surface of the berries is not desirable - this leads to a sharp reduction in the shelf life of the product and a deterioration in its quality.

The harvest can be harvested twice - in August - September on one-year-old shoots and in June a year later on old ones that survived the cold.

The most common method is to transport berries in plastic film in the form of bags. But in this case, moving berries in plastic packaging is only possible over short distances. To maintain humidity at an optimal level, containers with raspberries are packaged in perforated stretch film or covered with plastic lids and an industrial or, for small quantities of the crop, a household air humidifier is used.

Thus, it should be noted that the variety is important and useful for both adults and children. Raspberries, with their unique healing qualities, have a positive effect on health. Therefore, it is important to eat raspberries, enjoying their unique taste.

Features of planting and growing

Raspberry Himbo Top, according to the description, is an unpretentious variety; care and planting do not cause any particular difficulties. The most important thing is to initially maintain sufficient distance between seedlings. Dense plantings are susceptible to fungal infections and are difficult to care for and harvest.

Soil and planting algorithm

The variety grows well in open, illuminated areas. The distance between neighboring seedlings should be 1.5 m, and between rows at least 3 m. Such parameters are recommended due to the large dimensions of an adult plant.

Raspberries prefer loamy soils. If the soil is highly acidified, lime or dolomite should be added to it. You should not plant bushes on steep slopes or in lowlands where moisture can accumulate. The best place is a small hill with a slope, protected from the wind.

The preparation of the seat must be done in advance. The hole for the raspberry bush is prepared according to the parameters: at least 60 x 60 cm in width and length, at least 50 cm in depth.

1. A nutrient mixture of manure (2 buckets), fertilizer and topsoil is added to the bottom of the prepared depression. Superphosphate and compound mineral fertilizer in a 1:1 ratio are required as fertilizers. The hole should be filled in layers, arranging them in the following order:

• a layer of soil with a high concentration of fertilizers is placed at the bottom;
• then a layer of soil without fertilizer is added;
• Soil with a small amount of fertilizer is poured on top.

1. The seedling is placed vertically on the resulting elevation, the roots are carefully straightened along the slopes.
2. Cover the remaining free space around the seedling with soil, without deepening the root collar.
3. The soil is lightly compacted and watered thoroughly.

After planting, the plant is watered regularly, since the soil must be constantly moist. To preserve moisture for a long period, the ground around the bush is mulched with peat, humus, dry grass, and sand.

Trimming

Raspberries are pruned in the fall. With a one-year growing scheme, all shoots of the bush are cut off at the root. After the procedure, the ground around is mulched with a thick layer and protected with covering material to protect it from winter frosts.

When growing for two years, it is not necessary to completely cut off all the shoots. Green stems that have not yet become woody must be cut. When making a cut, stumps should not be left, as they become centers of putrefactive or infectious processes.

In spring, shoots that did not survive the cold should be additionally removed.

If some shoots break during fruiting, it is better to cut them off before autumn. This method will allow the plant to preserve its strength and direct it to the ripening of other fruits. The cut area is sprinkled with wood ash for disinfection purposes.

Raspberries of this variety are not pinched, since this procedure slows down the development of the bush and reduces the yield. In the summer, raspberries are removed from excess shoots. For a good harvest, 6-7 stems are enough for her.

Care

Due to the unpretentiousness of this crop, the variety has no special requirements for the frequency of watering. Water should be added as the top layer of soil dries. Due to the extensiveness of the root system, water must saturate at least 50 cm of the soil layer.

To optimize watering, a depression in the form of a trench is formed around the bush. This method minimizes the spreading of water from the bush, allowing the root system to receive maximum moisture.

After adding moisture, to avoid its rapid evaporation, the root zone is mulched. Sawdust or spruce needles are well suited for this; in their absence, you can use a thick layer of straw.

The culture responds well to mineral supplements. They begin to apply them 2 years after planting the bush. In the first year, it is not advisable to fertilize, since the plant needs enough fertilizer applied to the planting hole.

Raspberry Himbo Top (the description of the variety, in addition to general recommendations, also includes tips on fertilizing) needs 3 feedings during the growing season. In case of abundant fruiting, it is recommended to add an additional portion of organic fertilizers. This scheme will allow the plants to be maximally prepared for winter frosts.

It is not recommended to add nitrogen when berries begin to form. By stimulating the development of green mass with nitrogenous substances, the plant will stop forming ovaries.

Organic fertilizers in the form of bird droppings or mullein can be applied in the 2nd half of May after thoroughly loosening the soil. Such fertilizers cannot be used in their pure form, since the concentrated composition can cause burns to the root system. Poultry droppings are diluted in a ratio of 1:20, and mullein in a ratio of 1:10.

Tall bushes need staking. Long shoots may break under the weight of ripe berries. To strengthen plants, it is better to use temporary trellises. When tying, use soft fabrics or cords. Place the branches at an angle, since vertical fastening can lead to breaks in the apical parts loaded with berries.

The raspberry tree responds responsively to loosening the soil. Saturation of the soil layers with air allows the plant to develop the root system and receive nutrients in sufficient quantities. Being a remontant variety, Himbo Top does not require pinching. In addition, you should not remove any parts of the shoots unless necessary.

Diseases and pests

The variety is resistant to typical diseases and attacks by insect pests. In laboratory conditions, it was found that Himbo Top is extremely resistant to late blight and other fungal pathogens.

To prevent damage, young seedlings must be treated with fungi and insecticides. Among industrial products, Topaz, Fitosporit and Oksikhom have proven themselves well. You can prevent insect attacks with Iskra, Karbofos or Karate.

It should be remembered that such drugs tend to accumulate in berries. Therefore, they need to be used before the ovaries form.

Despite excellent immunity, the most dangerous disease for Himbo Top raspberries is root canker. The causative agent of the disease penetrates the root system through cracks or wounds and causes intensive division of root cells. The resulting tumors and growths reduce the functionality of the roots, the plant does not receive enough nutrients, which leads to the death of the entire bush.

Among the first symptoms are:

• weakened growth;
• inability to ripen shoots;
• absence of replacement shoots;
• yellowing of leaves;
• crushing berries;
• loss of decorative and taste qualities.

In addition, root canker reduces the immune system and makes the plant less resistant to low temperatures. As a preventative measure, you should carefully inspect the root system of seedlings before planting. Cut off any existing damage and treat the area with a solution of copper sulfate.

During planting, it is necessary to leave the root collar flush with the soil surface. Deepening will lead to damping off of the bark, which is a risk factor for the penetration of an infectious agent.

Wintering

When cultivating raspberries in a harsh climate with severe frosts according to an annual scheme, all shoots should be removed to the very roots. Cover the resulting sections with peat and sawdust. Then cover the raspberry patch with boards.

You can remove the shelter only after all the snow has melted. Himbo Top raspberries (the description of the variety includes the basics of proper wintering of the crop) can withstand winter well in frost-prone regions only with high snow cover.

When growing the variety in a 2-year cycle, the shoots must be bent to the ground and covered with non-woven material. In addition, in winter it is necessary to monitor the amount of snow on the shelters. A small layer of snow will not protect the plant from severe frosts, so additional snow retention measures should be taken.

Branches damaged by frost may not be noticeable in the spring. But later, the leaves on the shoots are easily scorched in the sun, turn brown, and the berries can become soft and wrinkled.

Harvesting

Harvesting takes place in several stages due to the extended fruiting period. The first berries appear on the shoots of 2 years at the end of June - beginning of July. This period is characterized by a high level of fruiting. The next stage of harvesting occurs in August when the berries on the shoots are ripening for 1 year.

The berries do not crumble, do not lose their presentation, size, or taste, until the very last day of harvest. Ripe fruits are easily removed from the stalks.

Storage

The variety is distinguished by its good ability to be transported. However, raspberries do not have a long shelf life. It is possible to keep the harvest fresh for several days if you place it in a cool place.

You can preserve fruits for a long period by freezing the berries whole or pureed. In addition, the sweet taste allows you to minimize the amount of sugar when making preserves and jams.

Feeding and watering

No fertilizing is required in the first two weeks after planting. Further, regular fertilization of plants will provide every gardener with a good harvest.

The feeding calendar looks like this:

1. For the first 2 years, 15 g of urea is added at intervals of 3-4 weeks. Fertilizer should be applied immediately after the bushes open.
2. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, apply an infusion of mullein and nettle or mineral complex fertilizers. Also, after spring loosening, humus or compost is poured under each bush.
3. In summer and autumn, Himbo Top needs phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. If the soil is fertile, then it is enough to add potassium and superphosphate once every 3 years.

Each feeding is combined with watering, which is carried out as the soil dries near the bushes. Sufficient soil moisture is especially important during the period of ovaries and fruiting. If you neglect this, the berries will begin to crumble.

Attention! Watering too frequently can cause a decrease in the crop's immunity. The roots will no longer receive the required amount of fertilizer due to water-compacted soil.

Where to buy, how much it costs

Raspberry Himbo Top is one of the few varieties whose bred qualities combine both high productivity and unpretentiousness, as well as limited methods of propagation.

Such characteristics make it possible to monopolize the process of breeding and selling this crop. In this regard, regular material costs for the purchase of fresh seedlings significantly increase the cost of the variety.

You can purchase planting material in garden nurseries or by ordering from an online store. The average price for 1 seedling ranges from 400-600 rubles. It is worth noting that a low price may indicate that the planting material does not correspond to the varietal characteristics.

Raspberry Himbo Top, according to the description of gardeners who decided to grow it, is an excellent variety that pleases with an abundant harvest of large, sweet berries. However, the inability to independently propagate bushes is a big disadvantage of this crop. But the undemanding nature of planting and care conditions makes the variety attractive for cultivation on a personal plot.

Diseases and pests

There are many diseases and pests of raspberries.

The Himbo Top variety is resistant to many infectious and fungal diseases:

• root rot;
• late blight;
• mosaic;
• purple spot;
• powdery mildew.

Some exceptions are root canker and Fusarium wilt. To minimize losses from all these misfortunes, you need to regularly inspect the bushes for diseases and the presence of pests, which are often the distributors of diseases.

Treatment with chemicals should be stopped 3 weeks before picking berries.

Care

Activities for growing raspberries are not burdensome, and yet to obtain a high-quality harvest, it is necessary to follow agricultural techniques:

• watering;
• loosening;
• mulching.

Raspberry bushes have a developed root system. Watering is done if necessary as the soil dries out. To avoid wasting water, grooves and sides are made around the plants.

After the top layer of soil has dried, it must be loosened while weeding.

Mulching the soil allows you not only to retain moisture, but also to suppress the growth of weeds. Sawdust, straw, and pine needles (forest litter) can be used as mulch.

Himbo Top can burn in bright sun, so for southern regions with high summer temperatures it is necessary to provide awnings to shade the bushes.

Garter bushes

This procedure is necessary so that the shoots do not break under the weight of the harvest or so that the berries do not end up on the ground. A neat garter allows you to avoid mutual shading of the bushes and facilitates access to them for harvesting.

Top dressing

Raspberry Himbo Top, like all modern agricultural crops, was created with intensive agricultural technology in mind.

The most effective are mineral supplements. They are the ones who are guaranteed to supply plants with the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium they need. These three elements are found in full NPK mineral complexes.

This fat is used for feeding three times per season:

1. In spring at the beginning of the growing season.
2. In summer, early July.
3. In mid-August. In this case, nitrogen must be excluded from the complex.

A single dose of tuk is one matchbox per bush.

Preparing for winter

The Himbo Top variety has low frost resistance, so autumn preparations for winter are very important.

In autumn, all shoots are cut off at the root, the raspberry tree is covered with peat or sawdust and covered with non-woven material. In winter, the plantation is additionally protected with snow.

When growing in a two-year cycle, only the “biennials” that produced the main harvest are cut out. The shoots of the first year are bent to the ground and covered with branches, coniferous spruce branches and agrofibre.

All shelters are removed in the spring immediately after the snow melts.

Recommendations for cultivation

Raspberries called Himbo-Top are very undemanding not only in planting, but also in seasonal plant care:

• in the first two or three years after planting, exclusively nitrogen fertilizers are applied to overwintered plants in the spring in the form of 15-17 g of urea per square meter of raspberry trees;
• after the first spring loosening of the soil, it is recommended to sprinkle organic fertilizers in the form of high-quality humus or compost around the plants;
• phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied in the autumn, no more than once every three years, in the form of 125-145 g of superphosphate and 100 g of potassium sulfate per square meter of raspberry trees;
• watering should be carried out as the soil dries out, using a significant amount of water that can qualitatively moisten the soil at the depth of the plant’s root system;

• When growing this foreign variety, it is necessary to tie the annual shoots of the plant to temporary trellis structures. This support makes it much easier to pick ripened berries;
• Plants should be systematically inspected for diseases and pests, and if necessary, sprayed with systemic preparations and cut out thin, damaged shoots;
• In winter, after pruning, it is recommended to bend the raspberry shoots to the ground.

Reproduction methods

Raspberries are usually propagated by suckers or root cuttings. But Himbo Top does not produce root shoots. On the one hand, this is a plus, as it simplifies the care of plantings, eliminating the fight against the spread of the plantation. But at the same time, this makes it impossible to reproduce using the above methods.

Propagation by dividing the bush requires mature plants. Initial plantings have to be done with seedlings purchased from nurseries.

The supplier of planting material is the Swiss company Lubera. Planting can be done both in the spring before sap flow begins, and in the fall. In the latter case, the timing is not critical if the earthen ball of the seedling is preserved during planting.

Advantages of the Himbo Top variety

Himbo Top raspberries attract gardeners with the following advantages:

• low demands on soil fertility characteristics;
• high resistance to bacterial or fungal infections, as well as to diseases of the root system;
• possibility of use on pathogenic (infected) land plots;
• successful production in organic farming conditions.

Low demands on soil.

Resistant to diseases.

Vigorous plant.

The vigor of the plants determines a fairly large width between the rows (from 3 meters). In addition, for ease of harvesting, it is recommended to tie up overgrown shoots to special plant supports.