Salmonberry: Tips for Planting & Caring for

The salmon berry is something very special. We have compiled everything you need to know, from planting to caring for the magnificent raspberry.

With the salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) it is a perennial plant from the rose family (Rosaceae). It belongs to the same genus as that normal raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and is perhaps more familiar to some of us as a splendid raspberry. The relatives are largely similar in terms of care, reproduction and processing. The magnificent raspberry, however, trumps with varieties whose flowers are reminiscent of the seductive beauty of the English rose. Hence it is also known as raspberry rose. But the splendid raspberry not only cuts a fine figure as an ornamental plant, it also impresses with its sweet, juicy fruits in early summer.

Salmonberry: Origin and History

The salmon berry is native to the northwest of the USA. There it has already been collected and used by the indigenous peoples in the wild. The fruits of the magnificent raspberry ripen every year for the arrival of salmon in the mouth of the Columbia River. Therefore, the tasty berry was traditionally prepared with salmon roe (the fish eggs). The name “salmonberry” did not come about because of its fruit or flower color, but rather goes back to this tradition. Not only because the impressive natural spectacle of the salmon migration is missing in this country, but also due to new cultivars with beautifully double flowers, the name "splendid raspberry" is over time developed.

Salmonberry Varieties: The most popular and delicious varieties

Since the salmon berry is a rarer specialty for lovers, essentially only two popular varieties have established themselves in German-speaking countries. In comparison to Variety of varieties in the classic raspberry that seems almost ridiculous. However, both variants impress with their yellow-orange to bright red and sweet fruits. They also form roots and shoots for vegetative reproduction.
The plants are absolutely hardy and suitable for cultivation in large pots.

'Olympic Double': This variety seems to be responsible for the origin of the name "raspberry rose" because yours large, double flowers are pink-red and create the association with the magnificent English roses. The fruits of the 'Olympic Double' ripen a little later than those of the 'Pacific Rose'. You can harvest the first ripe fruits from the beginning of July. Since the spreading flower makes fertilization difficult, the harvest is usually not as abundant as with the Pacific variety. Due to its shrub-like habit, it reaches heights of up to 1.5 meters.

'Pacific Rose': Of the two cultivars, this one is probably closer to the original appearance of the American original salmonberry. In addition, it is free from sharp spines and is therefore a pleasure to plant and care for. Its relatively small, chic, pink-colored flowers impress with their color intensity and produce the first ripe fruits as early as mid-June; it grows upright and, despite its bushy growth and the formation of runners, reaches heights of 1.5 to 2 meters.

Buy salmon berries

In order to enjoy vital, magnificent raspberries in the long term, you should ensure that you purchase your young plants from established horticultural companies. Expert gardeners ensure that only virus- and fungus-free young plants are offered for sale. When buying, it is best to check the plants for visible damage. Such weak points in the plant body make it easier for the corresponding pathogens to enter the plant tissue. Always take a critical look at the roots: The roots should be vital and richly branched. You should keep your hands off plants with a rather muddy and somewhat musty root ball - the risk of life-threatening root fungi is too great here.

Plant salmon berries

In terms of planting, there are few differences between the normal ones raspberry and the salmonberry. While the well-known raspberries are mostly cultivated on trellises, the splendid raspberry does not need any support. Depending on whether spreading is desired, a root barrier should possibly be incorporated in order to prevent and control unwanted spreading in the garden.

Salmonberry: Location and Demands

Like its close relatives, the salmonberry prefers a humus-rich, deeply loosened and therefore well-aerated soil. The salmon berries originally grew primarily in partially shaded forest clearings, but those in the Cultivars available from specialist dealers produce their particularly juicy fruits in sunny locations with good Water supply.

However, preference should be given to choosing locations where no other rose plants have grown immediately before. Because this could reduce your enjoyment of the new garden dweller due to lower yields or an increased infestation of diseases. If you have little space available, you can also plant the magnificent raspberry in large containers.

Planting salmon berries: timing and procedure

So that you can enjoy fresh fruits in the following summer, you should plant the young plants in deeply loosened soil in autumn. It is advisable to use a spade to dig the soil around the planting hole about 30 centimeters deep dig in order to loosen the soil around the root ball and thus allow the roots to grow in facilitate. This should come from a high-quality soil like our peat-free Plantura Organic tomato & vegetable soil replaced, which also optimally supplies berries with nutrients.

Finally, the root ball of the beautiful young raspberry is placed in the planting hole and lightly pressed down, so that the roots grow well, but there is no waterlogging due to overly compacted soil forms.

tip: Do not plant the salmon raspberry too deeply so that it does not penetrate the roots of the rods possibly too damp earth sinks - so you can reduce the risk of infestation with the general case Dreaded raspberries Tail disease to decrease.

Propagate salmon berries

Generative propagation of salmon berries via seeds is complex and not particularly promising. The possibilities of vegetative propagation, on the other hand, are as numerous as they are simple.

Propagate salmon berries by lowering them

Probably the simplest and gentlest method of propagating the salmon berries is the one using sinkers. In the wild, raspberries use this mechanism to spread themselves. To promote the process, a living sprout of the salmon berry is bent towards the surface of the earth. The tip of the shoot should always be above the surface of the earth, the shoot is buried at one point in the ground and fixed in such a way that it also remains below the surface of the earth. After a few weeks, the shoot will develop its first roots and the shoot between the original plant and the new roots can soon be separated. Now the new plant is able to take care of itself from its own roots.

Propagate salmon berries by root cuttings or by dividing the sticks

Has your salmonberry already grown to a handsome size? Then you can split the rootstock between the rods with a specific cut of the spade. But sometimes you still need the help of secateurs. If you have now divided your plant, you can plant a copy in a new bed or a container. If you would like more salmon berries, you can cut the roots of your plant in with the secateurs Cut pieces about 5 centimeters long and put them in fresh compost at the desired location set. Soon a new plant will also sprout from these root cuttings.

Propagate the salmonberry with cuttings

Similar to roses, the salmonberry can also be propagated using parts of the shoot. This method is recommended for October, when the plants are gradually starting to hibernate. To do this, cut healthy, straight rods into pieces 10 to 20 centimeters long, each with four buds. Then stick them vertically in potting soil so that two buds are covered with soil on each shoot. Root formation then begins in spring. Nevertheless, the growing plants should not be disturbed until the following autumn.

Maintain salmon berries

The salmon berry is generally a robust, hardy plant. It grows between 1.5 and 2 meters high and, due to its stability, does not require any scaffolding. With root runners (rhizomes), salmon berries can spread extensively under the ground and grow up out of the ground again elsewhere. But this can be prevented by root barriers.

Pour salmon berry

In hot summers with persistent heat and little rainfall, the magnificent raspberry should be watered daily, depending on the nature of the soil - preferably in the evening or early in the morning. Although it prefers a certain amount of moisture in the soil, it also tolerates short periods of drought. However, you should avoid waterlogging. Therefore: on sandy soils and when growing in pots, you should use the watering can more often than in the case when the magnificent raspberry roots in loamy or particularly clayey soils beats.

Fertilize salmon berries

For those who would like to supply their salmon berries with specially produced fertilizers, we recommend natural fertilization with mulch, manure, compost or nettle manure. After the fruits have ripened, they should be fertilized in autumn. To do this, spread a thin layer of mulch around the plants. This not only ensures a sufficient supply of nutrients until spring, but also improves the earth's microclimate. The same procedure naturally also applies to fertilizing with organic fertilizers, such as ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer. Organic fertilizers from specialist retailers slowly release the nutrients, favor and promote soil life and can be produced in a more resource-saving manner than mineral fertilizers. With the latter variant, there is also a risk of over-fertilization and the risk of over-fertilization if handled incorrectly unintended leaching of nutrients into the groundwater - and they really shouldn't go there.

Cut salmon berries

Pruning the magnificent raspberry is not absolutely necessary, but it can increase the harvest yield. To do this, use scissors to remove worn rods close to the ground in autumn. Younger shoots can be shortened if necessary to stimulate flowering. Note, however, that the salmon berry will also bear fruit on perennial shoots.

Salmonberry: Common Diseases and Pests

Diseases and pests usually do not play a role in the magnificent raspberry. In particular, germ-free cultivated and bought varieties from specialist dealers are very robust and largely resistant to diseases. Every now and then, however, the fungal disease gray mold (Bortrytis cinerea) occur on the shoot or on the fruit. The raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus) is a pest known from raspberry cultivation. This occasionally also lays its eggs in the flowers of the salmon berry, where they grow into small maggots in the ripe fruits.

Salmonberry: Ingredients and Recipes

Because of its healing ingredients, salmon berries have already been used for medicinal purposes by the indigenous peoples of North America. Its root bark is said to have a pain relieving and calming effect. In addition, the fruits of the magnificent raspberry contain high concentrations of vitamins C, K and manganese. They can be enjoyed raw or made into a delicious jam, jelly or fruit wine. Of course, you can also prepare them - very traditionally - with salmon roe.