BIO Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) ZEFA 111

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) 'Zefa III'

Proven primocane variety with abundant yield and high juice extraction.

'Zefa III' (also known as 'Zeva III') is a highly productive, everbearing (primocane-fruiting) red raspberry variety. It is extremely popular due to its reliability, high frost hardiness, and resistance to fruit rot, making it highly suitable for cultivation even in colder regions. The fruits are large, firm, and thanks to their high juiciness and excellent aromatic profile, they are ideal not only for fresh consumption but especially for making homemade syrups and juices.

Key Highlights:

• Everbearing (Primocane): Yields both a summer and an autumn crop.
• High juice yield: Ideal for syrups, jams, and juices.
• High frost resistance: Suitable for planting in colder regions.
• Resistance: Highly resistant to fruit rot.
• Prolific cane production: Thickens quickly and delivers abundant harvests.

Origin and Registration

• Origin: A traditional, time-tested variety in Europe.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Moderate to medium-strong growth, reaching a height of 1.5 to 2 meters at maturity. Produces a large number of young shoots.
• Leaves: Green, ovate with finely toothed edges.
• Pollination: The variety is fully self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and Shape: Medium to large fruits, blunt-conical in shape.
• Color: Soft red to dark red.
• Taste: Sweet, juicy, perfectly balanced sweet-sour, and highly aromatic.
• Usage: Fresh consumption, desserts, but excels in processing into juices and syrups.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: The variety is fully frost hardy.
• Diseases: Characterized by high resistance to fruit rot.
• Soil: Requires humus-rich, medium-heavy, well-drained soil with adequate moisture and a slightly acidic reaction.
• Location: Full sun to partial shade (an airy location reduces the risk of diseases).

Cultivation Recommendations

• Planting: Plant in 30x30x30 cm holes enriched with compost, spaced 40–60 cm apart. Plant approximately 5 cm deeper than it grew in the nursery, being careful not to damage the buds.
• Pruning: Since it is a primocane variety fruiting on first-year wood, the bush can be cut completely down to the ground in late winter (or early spring). If you want to keep the summer crop, only trim the upper parts that have already fruited.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Twice a year. The first harvest (on floricanes) takes place from late June to July. The second, main harvest (on primocanes) begins in August/September and lasts until the first frosts.