Raspberry Scepter - Rubus idaeus

The Scepter Raspberry is a hardy, robust and vigorous variety that produces abundantly medium-sized, round-shaped, highly fragrant, bright red fruits. This variety bears fruit from July until the first frost. Its sweet, sugary and slightly acidic fruits are delicious, whether fresh or cooked in jam, sorbet, juice, dried fruits or pastries. It is a moderately sucker-producing variety with weakly prickly branches. Planting is recommended in autumn or spring regions with cold or humid winters.

The Raspberry, native to Europe and temperate Asia, belongs to the Rosaceae family, like strawberries, blackberries and wild roses. In its native habitat, it grows in cool forest understories associated with plants such as mountain ash, elderberry or beech, with which it forms a symbiotic relationship. The Rubus idaeus Scepter is a variety that bears fruit from July until the first frost. Hardy and robust, this Raspberry with lightly prickly branches is very productive. It is self-fertile, but production is improved when planted alongside other pollinators. Optimal production is achieved in the third year after planting. The lifespan of a raspberry plant is about ten years. Two categories of raspberries can be distinguished: remontant varieties that ensure production from July-August until the frost and non-remontant varieties with abundant harvests around June-July.

The Scepter Raspberry is a deciduous shrub with upright stems, forming a bush about 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions over time. It develops as a moderately sucker-producing perennial stump. The canes are biennial, each one dying after fruiting. Every year, new suckers emerge from the stump with small, slightly prickly prickle-armed canes. The Raspberry has green leaves on the top and white-green and tomentose on the underside. The flowering is highly nectariferous. 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 April-May. The fruits are formed by small agglomerated drupes that are easy to detach when ripe.

The Scepter Raspberry offers the advantage of a staggered harvest for many uses. Raspberry is a delicate fruit that must be carefully picked; it can be lightly washed with water and keeps better in the refrigerator. The picking 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, crumble, puddings, etc., not to mention the traditional Raspberry Tart. Low in calories but rich in minerals, vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, raspberry is a health asset. Planting raspberry in the vegetable garden or orchard or as an accent in the ornamental garden gives this raspberry plant a special place alongside other small fruit varieties.