Common Raspberry.

Common raspberry: description, cultivation, use in cooking and medicine

Common raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is a biennial shrub of the Rosaceae family that grows to 1.5–2 m in height. The rhizome is perennial. The shoots of the 1st year are bluish, straight, densely covered with thin, reddish-brown spines, and sterile. Stems of the 2nd year are woody, with flower buds in the leaf axils. After fruiting, the shoots dry out. The leaves consist of three, less often five to seven petals. They are dark green above and white tomentose below. Raspberries bloom in June - July. The flowers are small, white, collected in a slightly drooping inflorescence. The fruit is complex, yellow or red, incorrectly called a berry, and consists of small drupes. Ripens in July - August. Abundant fruiting is observed after 3-4 years.

Common raspberries are distributed wildly in the European part of Russia, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, the Urals and the Caucasus. It grows along the edges of forests, in clearings, burnt areas, in windbreaks and in damp ravines. It is propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush. Place on flat areas, protected from cold winds. Prefers loose, fertile, well-drained but moist soil. Plant in spring, before buds open, or in autumn, after leaf fall. Before planting, add 8-9 kg of manure or compost per 1 m2. Raspberries die in damp areas.

Raspberries not only have a great taste, but also valuable medicinal properties. The fruits are used to make jam, compotes, marmalade and other confectionery products. Wild raspberries have more flavorful berries than cultivated ones. It is an excellent honey plant. Medicinal raw materials are fruits, leaves, and sometimes roots. The fruits are collected as they ripen in dry weather, when they are easily removed from the receptacle, slightly withered and dried in the sun, scattered in a thin layer, or in an oven at a temperature of 5O-6O°C. The finished raw materials are sorted, removing the blackened ones. The leaves are dried under a canopy, in the attic or in a dryer. Roots are collected in autumn or spring, before shoots begin to grow, and dried in air.

In medicine, raspberries are used as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antipyretic, hemostatic, diuretic, choleretic and tonic. Raspberry fruits contain vitamins C, A, E, PP, carotene, organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, sugars and pectin. Raspberry leaves are rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotene, vitamins C, K, B2, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) and essential oils. Raspberry roots contain tannins, coloring matter and essential oil.

Raspberry leaf tea helps with coughs, bronchitis, sore throat, colds, flu, gastrointestinal diseases, dyspepsia, as well as menstrual cycle disorders and menopause. In addition, raspberries strengthen the immune system, relieve fatigue, improve appetite and vision, and help remove toxins from the body.

In cooking, raspberries are used to prepare desserts, preserves, jams, compotes, mousses, pies, salads and other dishes. Raspberry syrup is added to cocktails and other drinks. Raspberries are an important ingredient in the production of confectionery products.

In addition, raspberries are used in the cosmetics industry to produce creams, masks, lotions and other skin care products.

Growing raspberries can be quite simple if you consider soil and location requirements. Raspberries prefer a sunny location and fertile, well-drained soil. It needs regular watering and feeding. With proper care, raspberries can produce a harvest of up to 20 kg per bush.

Thus, common raspberry is not only a tasty and healthy product, but also a valuable medicinal and cosmetic raw material. Growing raspberries can be a fun and rewarding activity for gardening enthusiasts.