Raspberry Lowberry Little Orangelina- Rubus idaeus

The Lowberry Little Orangelina Raspberry Bush is a modern variety suitable for small spaces and is highly original with its apricot-coloured fruits. From July to late September, it produces beautiful raspberries on the current year's canes, with a sweet and slightly tangy flavour. With a medium to large size, approximately 1.5 to 2 cm (1in) in diameter, and a rounded, slightly conical shape, they are truly delicious, whether eaten fresh or cooked. Its thornless canes make harvesting easy. Its compact size allows for pot cultivation on patios or balconies.

Hardy, up to -20°C (-4°F), and resistant to diseases, this 'Little Orangelina' raspberry bush is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It is a self-fertile variety that can pollinate itself, but pairing it with other raspberry varieties will enhance production by extending the harvest period and diversifying flavours and uses.

Rubus idaeus, commonly known as the Raspberry Bush, originates from Europe and temperate Asia, and belongs to the Rosaceae family, along with strawberries, blackberries, and wild roses. In its native habitat, it grows in cool, shaded areas in association with plants such as rowan, elderberry, and beech, forming a symbiotic relationship. Optimal production is achieved from the third year after planting. The lifespan of a raspberry bush is about ten years. There are two categories of raspberry bushes. Remontant varieties produce two crops, the first in June-July on the previous year's canes, and the second from August until the first frost on the current year's shoots. Non-remontant varieties have abundant harvests around June-July and fruit on the previous year's canes.

The Lowberry Little Orangelina variety is a recent Swiss creation from the Lowberry range. This range consists of varieties selected for their high yields, compact and dwarf habits, and suitability for pot cultivation. In this range, you can find the Saskatoon 'Saskadwarf', the Aronia 'Little Helpers', the blackberry 'Little Black Prince', the red raspberry 'Little Sweet Sister', and the blackcurrant 'Little Black Sugar'.

This raspberry bush is a bushy shrub that can reach a height of 100 cm (39in) and a spread of 80 cm (32in). Its deciduous foliage is carried by upright stems, growing from a moderately suckering perennial stump. The canes are biennial, with each one dying after fruiting. New suckers emerge from the roots every year, producing new thornless canes. The Raspberry Bush has green leaves on the upper surface and whitish-green and hairy undersides. The flowering is highly attractive to bees. The white flowers, 1 to 2 cm (0.5 to 1in) in diameter, are arranged in small clusters of 10 to 12. They appear from late June and continue blooming until September. The fruits consist of small aggregated drupes that are easy to detach when ripe.

The 'Little Orangelina' Raspberry Bush can be grown in pots on a balcony, patio, or in a small garden. It can also be planted in a vegetable garden, orchard, or used as an accent plant in a decorative garden. In any case, this Raspberry Bush will find a special place alongside other small fruit varieties.

Raspberries are delicate fruits that should be carefully picked. They can be lightly washed with water and are best stored in the refrigerator. Harvesting is simple and it is enjoyable to either eat the fruits on the spot or use them in various culinary preparations, such as sorbets, sauces, jams, tiramisu, crumbles, puddings, and, of course, the traditional raspberry tart. Low in calories but rich in minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron), vitamins C and K, fibre and antioxidants, raspberries contribute to a healthy nutritional balance.

Tip: This autumn raspberry variety, known as primocane-fruiting raspberries, produces fruit on the canes of the same year. However, by retaining a few canes from the previous year during winter pruning, it is possible to obtain an initial harvest in June from these same canes.