PARENTAGE

The parents of Glen Magna are Meeker x SCRI 7719B11. Meeker is a late cropping summer fruiting raspberry variety still popular in the UA which has a sweet full flavour and these characteristics have been passed down to Glen Magna. SCRI 7719B11 is a raspberry variety not deemed good enough to be grown in its own right but clearly has contributed to the flavour of Glen Magna.

APPEARANCE, TASTE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GLEN MAGNA

Glen Magna raspberries

Glen Magna raspberries are average size (typically 6g per fruit) and have a deeper red colour compared to other varieties. The ripe fruits are sweet but at the same time have a deep raspberry taste. The fruits don’t keep well because they are soft and very juicy so they are best eaten immediately after picking or within 24 hours.

The bushes grow to a medium to high height and are almost self-supporting, unusual for a summer fruiting raspberry. They are easy to pick because the top half off the canes have few thorns. They have no special care needs aside from those given to normal varieties. They withstand root rot (often caused by over-moist ground conditions) better than most but well drained, moist soil gives the best results.

The cropping period lasts about a month and the fruits are ripe a week or so after most mainstream varieties. Expect them to ripen from mid July to early August. Don’t pile the fruits up high in a container because they will squash the ones on the bottom layers.

BUYING GLEN MAGNA CANES IN THE UK

This is not one of the more common varieties and you are unlikely to find them for sale in a garden centre unless they specialise in fruit. They are available online at several specialist growers however and you can expect to pay about £1 per cane – they are no more expensive compared to other varieties. Raspberry canes should be planted at the same depth as they were originally grown at – the canes should have a soil mark round the base to indicate
this. The best time to buy and plant them is from November to March. They may well need watering if conditions are dry but from then on a good mulch and a feed twice a year is all that they should need.

SUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF GLEN MAGNA

USE: Eating only, they are too delicious to use for jams!

SKIN COLOUR / TEXTURE: Deep red

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Soft with a full, sweet raspberry flavour

FRUIT SIZE: Average (6g)

CANE SIZE: Slightly taller than average with thick canes

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Very regular

POLLINATION: Self-fertile

AWARDS: None

SPECIAL FEATURES: Top taste