'Pathfinder' Raspberry – Rubus idaeus

Ideal for our climate, the 'Pathfinder' raspberry is one of the earliest everbearing varieties, guaranteeing a long and generous harvest season even before the first frosts. Renowned for its high productivity and excellent hardiness, this raspberry establishes itself quickly thanks to its tendency to sucker, forming a beautiful raspberry patch in a short time.

The Harvest: Production and Flavour

'Pathfinder' stands out for its everbearing production that begins very early in the season, from the beginning of August, and continues without interruption until the first autumn frosts. This very long harvest period ensures satisfying and reliable yields, year after year. Production can begin as early as the first year of planting.

• Harvest Period: August, September, October
• Visual Description: The fruits are large, easily reaching 2 cm in diameter. They have a beautiful, classic, and appetizing raspberry-red colour.
• Flavour Profile: The flesh is firm yet melts in your mouth. The flavour is that of an excellent traditional raspberry, with a perfect balance between sweetness and a touch of acidity that makes it very flavourful.
• Culinary Uses: Perfect for eating fresh-picked, its classic flavour also makes it an ideal candidate for jams, jellies, and all your favourite pastries.

Planting Guide

To ensure a successful planting, follow these key steps:

1. The Ideal Location: Choose a site in full sun for maximum production. It tolerates light part-shade, but the yield may be lower.
2. Soil Preparation: It is comfortable in standard garden soil that is loose and well-drained, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Incorporating compost at planting time is recommended.
3. Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Place the plant, fill with soil, and water well. To create a row, space the plants 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) apart.
4. Pollination:
   • Type: Self-fertile.
   • Suggested Partners: Although self-fertile, the yield is always better with cross-pollination. Plant it near another everbearing variety like 'Anne' for optimized harvests.

Care Guide

• Watering: Maintain cool and moist soil, especially during dry periods, to ensure juicier fruit.
• Fertilizing: An annual application of compost in the spring is usually sufficient. If necessary, supplement with a natural fertilizer for small fruits.
• Pruning: Pruning is incredibly simple. Since 'Pathfinder' produces on the current year's new canes (primocanes), you just have to mow or cut all the canes down to ground level in the late autumn, after frost has ended the harvest. New productive canes will grow the following spring.
• Protection:
  • From Birds: Protective netting is highly recommended as soon as the fruits begin to turn red.
  • Control: This variety suckers easily. To keep it under control, simply mow around your row to cut down unwanted new shoots.