Rubus idaeus 'Bohème'

The Raspberry 'Bohème' is a perpetual and early variety, offering fruits from the beginning of August. Very productive, it produces many fruits over a short period. The raspberries are round, light red, medium-sized, and quite tender. They have an aromatic and fruity taste, with a clear and pleasant acidity. Plant between October and March for a harvest in August-September, then in June the following year. The raspberry bush requires a deep, loose, fertile garden soil that is not too chalky, remains cool in summer, and has a sufficiently large location, as it easily suckers.

The Raspberry or Rubus idaeus belongs to the Rosaceae family, like strawberries, blackberries, and wild roses. The wild raspberry is native to Europe and temperate Asia, where it grows in cool climates in the company of elderberry, beech, or rowan, especially in mountain undergrowth but also in plains.

The 'Bohème' perpetual variety forms a bush about 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions over time, with deciduous foliage and upright stems. The stems or canes are biennial, each having the characteristic of dying after fruiting. From its roots emerge suckers every year, new canes armed with small, slightly prickly prickles. They bear green leaves on the upper side, white-green and woolly on the underside, which fall off in autumn. The flowering is very melliferous. The white flowers are small (1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) in diameter), grouped in small clusters of 10 to 12, and appear from May to July for repeat flowering varieties. The fruits are formed of small clumps of drupes, easy to detach when ripe. Production reaches its normal level in the third year after planting. One plant can produce fruits for several years, around ten years. There are two types: repeating varieties, produced in autumn (generally from August to October) and then again in June the following year, and non-repeating varieties with abundant harvests in June-July. 'Bohème' stands out for its healthy and vigorous growth and is less susceptible to root and stem diseases.

To fully enjoy their flavour, raspberries should be consumed quickly after picking, as they do not keep well, only a few days in the refrigerator. If you have a bountiful harvest, consider making coulis, sorbets, ice creams, pies, or jams. You can also freeze them. Poor in calories but rich in minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron), vitamins C and K, fibre, and antioxidants, raspberries, like other small fruits, contribute to a balanced diet.