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Rubus idaeus 'Polka'^PBR (F)

raspberry 'Polka'

'Polka' is a stout raspberry with slightly thorny canes. A primocane raspberry with the potential for two fruit crops in the year, starting to ripen in late July with the biggest yield in autumn. Fruits are large and red, with a fresh flavour and good keeping quality

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Suckering
Genus: Rubus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and 5-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in rows between parallel wires for support. Mulch with acidic material such as composted bark. May have the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well. See raspberry cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in the dormant season. Lift new canes along with their rootballs. Choose only newly planted, disease-free stock from which to propagate

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens
Edible fruit

Pruning

Prune all canes to ground level in late winter

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, raspberry beetle, glasshouse red spider mite and gall mites

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)

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