Polka, a primocane raspberry variety, is proving increasingly popular, according to Hargreaves Plants.
The variety is propagated exclusively in the UK by the Spalding-based breeder and, according to the company’s raspberry expert Jamie Petchell, it is now being more widely planted than ever.
“Many of our customers have benefited in year one by planting in the autumn and then harvesting up to 12 tonne a hectare the following season,” he said. “Sales of cane will soon outstrip supply and we are now putting plans in place to increase the production of potted plants for the spring of 2006.”
Polka, bred in Poland by Dr Jan Danek, is seen by Hargreaves as being the earliest fruiting of the commercial primocanes currently available.
This gives the fruit grower the best possible opportunity of eliminating the fruit gap after the floricane varieties have finished, Petchell said.
