Rubus idaeus Primeberry 'Autumn Chef'

The Rubus idaeus Primeberry 'Autumn Chef' is a variety of autumn raspberries produced abundantly on the year's canes. Its large, conical, bright red fruits weigh up to 5 grams. Of excellent taste, their flesh is firm and juicy, incredibly sweet, with a very slight acidity, bringing out only the fruity taste of raspberry, punctuated with a subtle hint of vanilla. They keep fairly well for a few days and can be frozen. The ripening period begins around mid-August and continues into autumn.

Fast-growing and robust, some canes of this raspberry can reach 1.70 m (6ft). They form a dense clump composed of many upright and prickly branches. Planting this Primeberry 'Autumn Chef' raspberry is recommended in autumn or spring, especially in regions with cold or humid winters. It is a self-fertile variety, capable of self-pollination. Still, it is also beneficial to pair it with other varieties of raspberries to stimulate production by staggering harvests and diversifying tastes and uses. The 'Autumn Chef' raspberry is hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to -20 °C (- 4°F), and resistant to diseases. Easy to grow, it requires little maintenance.

The Rubus idaeus, commonly known as the Raspberry, originated from Europe and temperate Asia and belongs to the Rosaceae family, like strawberries, blackberries and wild roses. In its original habitat, it grows in the undergrowth in a cool climate in association with plants such as: the rowan tree, elderberry or beech, with which it forms a symbiotic association. Production is optimal from the third year after planting. The lifespan of the raspberry is about ten years.

There are two categories of raspberries.

Repeat varieties ensure two harvests, the first around June-July on the previous year's canes, then the second from August until frost on the young shoots of the year.

Non-repeat varieties, whose abundant harvest is around June-July, bear fruit on the previous year's canes.

The Primeberry ‘Autumn Chef’ variety is a recent Swiss creation, part of the Primeberry range. It is part of this wide range of autumn raspberries, which consists of varieties selected for their vitality, robustness, high yield and exceptional taste quality of their fruits. Each variety has been carefully chosen to guarantee a pleasant cultivation experience and abundant harvests of delicious raspberries. ‘Autumn Chef’ forms a bushy shrub that can reach a height of 1.75 m (6ft) with a spread of 0.80 to 1 m (3ft). Its deciduous foliage is borne on upright stems, developing as a perennial clump of suckers. The canes are biennial, each having the peculiarity of dying after fruiting. Every year, new suckers emerge from its roots, armed with small prickly prickers. The Raspberry has green leaves on the top, whitish-green and tomentose on the underside. The flowering is very melliferous. The white flowers, 1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) in diameter, are grouped in small clusters of 10 to 12. They appear in June, and the flowering continues until August. The fruits are formed by small agglutinated drupes, which are easy to detach when ripe.

Raspberries are delicate fruits that must be picked carefully; a light wash with water is possible, and they keep better in the refrigerator. Harvesting is easy, and it is delightful either to taste the fruits on the spot or to pick them for many culinary uses: sorbets, coulis, jams, tiramisu, crumbles, puddings... not to mention the traditional raspberry tart. Low in calories but rich in minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron), vitamins C and K, fibre and antioxidants, raspberries contribute to an excellent nutritional balance.

Within a edible hedge, in the vegetable garden, or as an accent in the ornamental garden, the 'Autumn Chef' Raspberry will find a special place alongside other varieties of small fruits. To extend the harvesting period and increase the diversity of colour and taste of raspberries, it can be interesting to plant near everbearing varieties, such as the varieties Zeva and Héritage, or yellow-coloured varieties like the varieties Golden Everest, Fall Gold, Autumn Amber or black varieties like the varieties Black Jewel or Glen Gloe.

Tip: This variety of autumn raspberry, known as primocane raspberries, bears fruit on the canes of the year, but during winter pruning, by keeping some canes from the previous year, it is possible to obtain a first harvest in June on these same branches.