Raspberry Malling Passion - Rubus idaeus

The Malling Passion Raspberry is a new variety resulting from the crossbreeding of our garden red raspberry with the black raspberry from America, which gives the fruits more antioxidants and exotic flavours. Hardy, robust, and vigorous, the bush produces large, round-shaped, highly fragrant fruits of a deep purple colour. This everbearing variety produces fruits from July to late September in a staggered manner. Its sweet and juicy raspberries are delicious when eaten fresh or used in jam, sorbet, juice, or pastry. It is a moderately suckering variety with thorny branches. 

The Raspberry, native to Europe and temperate Asia, belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like strawberries, blackberries, and wild roses. In its original habitat, it grows in the undergrowth of cool climates associated with plants such as mountain ash, elderberry, or beech, with which it forms a symbiotic relationship.

The Rubus idaeus Malling Passion is a new variety created in 2019. It produces fruits from July to late September. Hardy and robust, this bush with thorny branches is very productive. It is self-fertile, but the production is enhanced when planted alongside other raspberry plants. When planted in the vegetable garden or orchard or as accents in the ornamental garden, this raspberry bush holds a special place alongside other  small fruit varieties. The optimal production is achieved in the third year after planting. The lifespan of the raspberry plant is around ten years. Two categories of raspberries can be distinguished: everbearing varieties, which ensure production from July-August until the first frost, and non-remontant varieties, which have a plentiful harvest around June-July.

The Malling Passion Raspberry is a deciduous shrub with upright stems, forming a bush of about 1.50 cm (1in) in all directions over time. It develops as a moderately suckering perennial stump. The stems or canes are biennial, with each one dying after fruiting. Every year, new suckers emerge from their roots, producing new canes armed with small, mildly prickly prickles. The Raspberry has green leaves on the top and white-green and tomentose on the underside. The flowering is beautiful to bees. 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 aggregated drupes that are easy to detach when ripe.

The Rubus idaeus Malling Passion produces fruits from July to late September, offering the advantage of a staggered harvest for numerous uses. The Raspberry is a delicate fruit that needs to be carefully picked; a light water wash is possible, and it keeps better in the refrigerator. Harvesting is easy, and it is delightful either to taste the fruits on the spot or to pick them for various culinary uses such as sorbets, purees, jams, tiramisu, crumbles, puddings, etc., not to mention the traditional Raspberry Tart. The raspberry is a health asset, low in calories but rich in minerals, vitamin C, and fibre. This Raspberry plant is particularly rich in antioxidants.