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Raspberry

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

The raspberry is a delicious fruit that comes from many different plants. These plants belong to the genus Rubus in the rose family.

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)
Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

Most raspberries grow on woody stems that are called perennials. They are grown all over the world in many places. In 2023, the total world production reached 940,979 tonnes. Russia led the way by growing 23% of that total.

Fertődi kármin málna
Fertődi kármin málna

People enjoy eating them in many tasty ways. You might find them in cakes, pastries, or ice cream. They are also used to make preserves, juices, and even liqueurs.

A single raspberry is actually an aggregate fruit. This means it grows from many tiny parts called carpels in one flower. Each carpel grows into a small part called a drupelet.

2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01
2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01

Every drupelet contains its own little seed. A single raspberry is usually made of around 100 drupelets. One way to tell a raspberry from a blackberry is the center. When you pick a blackberry, the stem stays with the fruit. With a raspberry, the stem stays on the plant. This leaves a hollow core inside the berry.

Growing raspberries can be a bit of a hard job. They need plenty of sun and lots of water to grow well. They also like soil that drains water easily.

Golden Raspberries
Golden Raspberries

If the soil is too wet, the plants can get a problem called Phytophthora root rot. This rot happens to the roots. Another problem is gray mold, which is a fungus called Botrytis cinerea. This mold grows on the fruit when things are very wet. Some insects like the Japanese beetle also love to eat the sweet fruit.

People have studied and grown many different kinds of raspberries for a long time. The name "raspberry" first appeared in print in the year 1602. Some think the name comes from a word for a sweet rose-colored wine.

Himbeere (Rubus idaeus) IMG 7756
Himbeere (Rubus idaeus) IMG 7756

There are many species, like the Asian raspberry and the Tasmanian alpine raspberry.

Raspberries, fruit of four species
Raspberries, fruit of four species

Some plants are red, while others are black or purple. There are even golden raspberries that look pale yellow. These yellow berries still have the same special flavor as the red ones.

You can see how raspberries connect to your own garden or grocery store. Many farmers use special ways to grow them. Some use "long cane production" to grow plants in cold places like Scotland. Then they move the plants to warmer places like Spain to get fruit early.

2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01
2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01

Some people even grow them in high tunnels to keep them safe. This helps them grow even when the weather is not perfect. Raspberries are very strong plants and can spread quickly through their roots.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Raspberries (Rubus idaeus).jpg
Raspberries (Rubus idaeus).jpg
File:Fertődi kármin málna.JPG
Fertődi kármin málna.JPG
File:Raspberries, fruit of four species.jpg
Raspberries, fruit of four species.jpg
File:Himbeere (Rubus idaeus) IMG 7756.JPG
Himbeere (Rubus idaeus) IMG 7756.JPG
File:2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01.jpg
2010-05-24 Himbeerblüte 01.jpg
File:Golden Raspberries.jpg
Golden Raspberries.jpg
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