Rubus idaeus 'Polka'PBR (F)

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raspberry 'Polka'

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'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

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit

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)