Things to do in Lisbon: Visit a Raspberries Farm

In order to be successful, it is important to take into account some important aspects. Due to the advances and developments that have occurred over the last few years, it is possible to have raspberries throughout most of the year. However, let’s just focus on unskilled “home-made” production.

It should be noted that there are many species of raspberries and that they fall into two categories. Remnants and non-remontantes.
Confused? It’s simple.

Reminiscent is the designative of the plant that blossoms without ceasing throughout the season itself, or whose flowering is repeated several times in the year. Several prunings are needed throughout the year to maximize production. Non-remontante is the opposite. Flowering and production only happens once and in season itself. In general with more abundant crops. You can choose to plant the two varieties. This will extend the enjoyment of your tasting for many more months.

Cultivation

Raspberries grow best on well-drained soils whose pH value is between 5.5 and 6.5. Choose a location protected from the wind and with high sun exposure. In warmer regions, they tolerate some partial shade. Sun exposure accelerates ripening and also contributes to pollination.

Before planting the raspberries, prepare the soil well. Pull out all the weeds and their roots. Dig the earth to look cute. Add compound to the soil or other biological fertilizer as old manure.

Please note: avoid planting raspberries in places where you have previously grown peppers, aubergines, tomatoes, potatoes or strawberries. These cultures are prone to the same type of fungus that normally attacks the raspberry. If you want to create a structure of tutors with stakes and wires to orient the plants and make them more productive, you should preferably create this structure before putting the plants on the ground.

As for plants, the best option is to buy specimens raised in nurseries. This gives more assurance of absence of pests and diseases.
Of course you can always plant cuttings given by the neighbor. However, in addition to the reasons mentioned above, you will have a harder time identifying the species and knowing what care you will need.

The planting should be done preferably at the end of winter. To moisten the plants well, place the raspberry vases in a bucket with water at room temperature. Next, dig a hole with a size equivalent to twice the size of the pot, in every way.

Spread a little fertilizer at the bottom of the hole. Place the raspberry in the center so that the stem is close to the ground. Plant each raspberry at a distance of 60-90cm from each other. Fill around the plant with soil, then compact it lightly on the surface around the stem. Irrigate the raspberry feet abundantly after planting.

After planting you should apply a layer of mulch to invigorate the plant and improve the survival rate. This will also avoid the annoyance of weeds. This layer should only be used during the deployment period. Thereafter, high levels of moisture can bring disease to plants.

During the first year of planting, the two most important cultural aspects to consider are weed control and weed control. You’ll have to wait a while before eating the first raspberries. The first year is just to develop. In the following year they flourish and bear fruit, dying next. This cycle will happen every year.

Water

Raspberries grow well and produce large fruits in a fresh soil. Water regularly, especially in summer, when temperatures are higher. In the fall, watering should be much less frequent.

Pruning

Pruning is a very important cultural operation for the maintenance of plant productivity and for the elimination of diseased and / or pest sticks and rods in excess or with little vigor. It also helps to improve the distribution of sunlight and aeration. It varies depending on whether they are “non-remittances” or “remontantes” varieties.

In the case of non-remitting varieties, the main pruning must be carried out immediately after the end of the harvest or at the end of winter and all fruit-bearing sticks should be removed, cutting them even close to the ground. From January to early March, all new sticks (sticks of the year) with little vigor, starters, sick or with signs of the presence of insects should be eliminated.

The remitting varieties should be pruned soon after the end of the harvest, cutting all the poles close to the ground. Then, the following spring, new releases will appear that will bear fruit that same year.

Harvest

Do not let the birds be the first to eat their raspberries. Harvesting should be done preferably every day. You will know if your fruits are ripe enough to eat when they are full of color. Frequent harvesting minimizes the appearance of diseases and pests that prefer very ripe or already decaying fruits. When the fruits are ripe, their harvesting is easy, just by pulling them slightly To increase the shelf life of the fruits, harvesting should be avoided when they are wet.

What to do in Lisbon? Let´s book a raspberries farm experience!

You will arrive at the raspberry farm and we will introduce you to the farmer. He will tell you all about the story of the farm. After the presentation, you will walk through the farm to see the raspberries trees and all the equipment and special techniques for harvesting. This is a true experience, so you will pick your own raspberries. The farmer will teach you how to taste raspberries, and explain what makes good raspberries —and what makes the bad stuff, too. During the degustation on the farm, you will see all the raspberries jam, sweets, and drinks. You will end this day with a wealth of knowledge about production techniques, history, and the freshness, intensity, and variety that high-quality raspberries can offer.

Location: Sintra (20 min from Lisbon)

Duration: 4 hours Number of persons: 4 to 20 people

Our experience will include:

Arrival at the farm and welcome by the producer
Guided tour of the farm
Practical production and nutrition workshop
Harvesting experience
Tasting raspberries

Extras:

Lunch at the farm
Transportation from Lisbon

Our producer

With about 1.5 hectares of greenhouses, this production supports 10,000 raspberry plants grown in ridges, being in its first year of production. Family-friendly production, located in an area with a privileged view over Sintra mountain range, perfect for a unique experience in the countryside 20 minutes from Lisbon.

The Raspberry

Among the so-called small fruits, raspberry is one of the most cultivated species. They are highly appreciated for their highly fragrant aroma and for their sometimes sweet, sometimes acidic flavor. The advantages of raspberry are diverse, since they have large amounts of essential nutrients for general health, rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fibers, besides being a delicious fruit.

Posted in: