If you are tired of sour raspberries that run in your palm and become moldy after rain, pay attention to the Hercules variety. This is not just a berry, but a dessert grown in the sun: dense, aromatic, with the taste of ripe raspberries, light berry sourness and honey sweetness.
What makes Hercules special:
- Long-term fruiting. The first harvest is in July, the second – from August until frost. The berries do not become smaller in the second wave.
- Giant berries. Each weighs 5-8 grams, about the size of a large cherry, ideal for freezing and making jam.
- Incredibly sweet. Sugar content up to 11–13%, rich taste, without acid.
- Frost resistance. Withstands down to –30°C without shelter when the roots are mulched.
- Rot resistance. Even in rainy summers, the berries remain intact; the thick skin does not allow moisture to pass through.
How to grow:
- Plant in a sunny bed with light, well-drained soil. Better on raised ridges.
- Water regularly, but do not overwater.
- Feed with ash and compost in the spring and after the first harvest.
- Remove old shoots in the fall, leaving only young shoots.
- In the fall, mulch the bed with straw or leaves. This is enough even in harsh climates.
“Hercules” will become your favorite berry. It is eaten from the bush, added to yogurt, frozen whole, or made into jam without sugar. And in September, when everyone has already run out of raspberries, sugar giants are still ripening in your garden.
Question and answer:
Is it possible to grow “Hercules” in Siberia or the Urals?
Yes, when mulched and in a protected place. The main thing is to prune in the fall, leaving only young shoots.
Do I need to cover it for the winter?
Enough mulch. In harsh winters, you can add spunbond.
