Organic Raspberry Blissy or Autumn Bliss (Everbearing) - Rubus idaeus

The Autumn Bliss Organic Raspberry (also known as Blissy) is an old variety known for its robustness, disease resistance, and ease of cultivation. The bush, not very tall, does not need to be trained and it offers an abundance of fruits from late August until the first frost, with peak production in September. Its large-sized raspberries have a flavourful and sweet taste that will delight enthusiasts. They can be stored for a few days after picking in a cool place. Planting is done from October to March in deep garden soil, well loosened and enriched, with not too much limestone, remaining moist even in summer.

To fully enjoy their flavour, raspberries should be consumed quickly after picking, as they do not keep for a long time. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making coulis, sorbets, ice creams, pies, or jams. You can also freeze them.

Production reaches its normal level in the third year after planting. One plant can produce fruits for around 10 years. There are two types: remontant or everbearing varieties, producing in autumn (generally from August to October) and then again in June of the following year, and non-remontant or summer bearing varieties, with abundant harvests in June-July. 'Autumn Bliss' is a variety with upright canes, adorned with small prickles, rather low, naturally resistant to phytophthora.

The Raspberry is a deciduous shrub with upright stems, forming a bush of 1m (3ft) to 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions over time, depending on the varieties. The stems or canes are biennial, each having the peculiarity of dying after fruiting. Every year suckers emerge from its roots, producing new canes armed with small, mildly prickly thorns. The Raspberry has leaves that are green on the top, white-green and hairy on the underside. The flowering is very nectar-bearing. The white flowers are small (1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) in diameter), grouped in small clusters of 10 to 12, and appear in spring and summer. The fruits are formed by small agglomerated drupes, easy to detach when ripe.

The Raspberry belongs to the Rosaceae family, like strawberries, blackberries, and wild roses. Wild raspberries are native to Europe and temperate Asia, where they grow in cool climates alongside elderberry, beech, or rowan, especially in mountainous undergrowth, but also in the plains.