Favourable weather supports Estonia’s raspberry harvest

Favourable weather has helped raspberry growers in Estonia achieve a good harvest this summer, ERR reported.

Growers have avoided the heavy rain that can damage raspberries during picking, while spring frosts caused limited harm. Recent changeable weather in spring and summer has nevertheless encouraged growers to seek new ways to cultivate the berries.

At the Tontoili berry farm near Valgjärve in Põlva County, raspberries are now grown in pots outdoors. The plants are put out later in spring to help them withstand the cold, while early-season raspberries are initially grown in tunnels to protect them from severe spring frosts.

“This year’s raspberry harvest is good. We have not had heavy rain during picking that would destroy the berries, and the spring frost did not cause much damage,” said Kardo Tamm, the young owner of Tontoili berry farm.

At Joosepi Farm in Ahja, the first tunnel-grown raspberries ripened around midsummer. The farm’s outdoor potted plants are now also producing a good harvest, raising hopes that the raspberry season will continue until the end of August.

“We have a lot of raspberries. This year we have a good harvest,” said Kaire Roositalu, the owner of Joosepi Farm. She added that the tunnel-grown raspberries had finished and the outdoor crop was now beginning, making it a good time to start preparing raspberry jam.