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Getting Started Preparation and Site Selection
Starting
Raspberry from seed Varieties of Raspberries and Blackberries
Cultivation and Maintenance Watering Raspberries and Blackberries Fertilizing Raspberries and Blackberries
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How
to Grow Raspberries
Preparation
and Site Selection
Site Selection
Ideally Raspberries and all brambles should be grown on a site with full sunlight, however they will tolerate partial shade if need be.
Ideally Raspberries prefer a well-drained loam soil, high in organic matter, with a deep and well-drained subsoil, but they will tolerate a wide range of soil types. Avoid Soils that are heavy in clay and or salts. Raspberry plants require good soil aeration and are very susceptible to root rots. Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5
Good air circulation is important in reducing damage from spring frosts, winter injury, and diseases. Some wind protection is recommended to reduce possible breaks or cane desiccation.
How to Grow Raspberries from seed
Planting Raspberry from seeds is not a good idea. Transplants are recommended. However, if you are going to plant from seed Raspberry Seeds should be planted in Early Autumn {Indoors} Fill a starter trays
with sterile potting soil in the early fall. Press 2 to 3 raspberry seeds about 1/4 of an inch into the soil of each cell. The same as planting any other seeds in starter trays, gently compact the soil to remove air space.
Moisten the soil lightly , just enough to dampen . Keep the soil moist throughout the entire germination process, not soaked - just moist, too much moisture / water can lead to fungus and decay and destroy your raspberries before they even sprout. Place the seed starter tray in a cool, dark area till germination, which should take about 3 months. A "cool dark area" should be above 35 °F
Assuming you planted your seeds in Say September to October {Early Autumn} they should be sprouts shortly after the Winter Holidays - the time of year when only the most dedicated gardeners are thinking about their gardens. Set the seed starter trays in a sunlight area once the seeds begin to sprout. If this is not feasible, set up a grow light and place the seed starter tray underneath.
Continue to keep the soil moist {not soaked} and provide the raspberry plants with sufficient sunlight or appropriate artificial light as they continue to grow. Transplant the raspberry plants outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil is workable. You might also want to harden them a day or two before hand by setting the trays outdoors in the breeze and cooler climate to get the plants acclimated.
The Transplants should be planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the plants cool prior to transplanting , if your seedlings can't be planted right away they should be heeled in or stored.
* Don't allow the plants to dry out during planting .The portion of the stem that was below ground is a different color. The hole should be big enough to allow the roots to spread out normally.
How to Grow Raspberries from transplants or root stock
Remove the dormant, bare root raspberry plants from storage when ready to plant. If the roots of the raspberry plants are dry, soak them in water for several hours before planting.
The raspberry plants should be set slightly deeper into the soil than they were in the nursery. Red raspberries are planted 2 inches deeper while black and purple raspberries are set 1 inch deeper than previously grown.
Destroy neighboring wild raspberries or blackberries to prevent disease from spreading to your plants. Don't plant raspberries in proximity to, or where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant have been grown within the past four years, these plants carry Verticillium root rot that will also attack raspberries.
Holes for your raspberry plants should be relative in size to their root balls. Space holes about 2 feet apart. and space the rows 8 to 12 feet apart , this of course may vary dependent upon which planting system you use .. linear, hedgerow ....
Remove the raspberry plants from the seed starter tray, placing one raspberry plant in the center of each hole. Backfill the holes and compress gently . Water vigorously after initially transplanting - I didn't say to build an Ark , just give the plants a healthy saturation.
How to Grow Raspberries
Planting SystemsHill system - Plants are sown in hills, wide spacing 8 -10 Feet , weed control by cultivation between and within row, recommended for gently sloping areas. Good for black and purple raspberries.
Hedgerow system - Plants are grown in continuous rows about one to two feet wide to form a hedge. Control by cultivation confined to one direction. Space saving, good for varieties that produce a lot of suckers. Good for red and yellow raspberries.
Linear system - A modification of the two above, no suckers are allowed to grow by cultivating the width around the parent plant. Good for black and purple raspberries.
Raspberry Type Training System
Spacing between Rows 8-10 Feet 8-10 Feet 10-12 Feet 10-12 Feet 10-12 Feet
Plant Spacing in the Rows 2 Feet 2- 3 Feet 3 Feet 3 Feet 6 Feet Red, Yellow Raspberry Hedgerow, low trellis Black Raspberry Hill, low trellis Erect Raspberry Hill, no trellis Purple Raspberry Hill, no trellis Thornless Raspberry Hill, high trellis
How to Grow Raspberries
Plant Supports / Trellises
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How to Grow Raspberries - Pruning
Raspberries are pruned when dormant and after canes have fruited. The canes are biennial so a cane emerges and grows during one year then bears a crop of berries and dies the following year. An exception would be everbearers. Proper pruning at the correct time of the year will result in better production of raspberries and vine berries the next year.
Remove canes that have fruited right after harvest. The early removal of these canes may help control pest problems and maximize the water and nutrients available to new canes. Cut the tops back to about 6 inches. Cutting back may be done before or after planting.
Some types of red raspberries need a dormant pruning to remove weak or damaged canes. In the linear or hill systems thin the canes to 6 to 8 per hill. In the hedgerow the canes should be spaced 8 inches apart. In the hill and linear systems shorten the canes to about 5 1/2 feet. In the hedgerow system shorten the canes to 4 feet. If the canes are shorter than these heights, take off only the portion that has been winter injured.
Some season weather conditions promote new growth will flower toward the tip of the canes and produce fruit which turns red in Late October to early November. This late crop of raspberries generally never ripens properly and very often becomes covered with a grayish mold which, if not controlled, will often carry over to the next season's fruit crop. I suggest that this late fruit crop be removed as it develops, by simply picking or pruning the fruits or flowers as they show up.
How to Grow Raspberries - Fertilizing
Raspberries thrive best in an acidic soil, a pH range of 5.6 to 6.2 is recommended [*See Also Soil pH]
Fertilize 10 to 14 days after planting with 2 ounces of 12-12-12 or a similar fertilizer. Keep the fertilizer 3 to 4 inches from the shoots and canes.
The second year fertilization can be increased to 4 to 5 pounds per 1000 square feet of bed area. From the 3rd year on the planting should be given 8 to 9 pounds per 1000 square feet.
Holly-Toneis a water soluble formula which helps fruit set and strengthens roots of black and red raspberries.
Also See: Understanding Fertilizer Labels
Recommended Varieties for Home Growers
Berry type Color Ripening Season Fruit size Firmness Summer Bearing Allen Black Early/mid Large - Black Hawk Black Late Medium Very Good Boyne Dark Red Mid Medium Fair Haut Black Early Medium - Bristol Black Early Large Very Good Liberty Red Mid Medium Poor Latham Red Mid Small Fair
Newburgh Red Mid Medium Good Reville Red Early Med./Large Fair Sentry Bright Red Mid Med Excellent Brandy Wine Purple Late Large Royalty Purple Late Large Fair Ever Bearing Heritage Red Late Med Redwing Red Mid Large Fall Gold Yellow Early Med
Raspberry Seed and Plants
Harvesting Raspberries
Raspberries are very soft and quickly perishable, that is a primary reason they won't generally be seen often in your local supermarket. they are not ideal for commercial operations.
Raspberries do not increase in sweetness or flavor after picking. Handle the fruit gently, and pick fruit daily during hot or dry weather.
The official consensus states that you should harvest spring-bearing varieties beginning in July and ever-bearing varieties in mid or late October, when the nighttime temperature are above freezing.. But it's not really rocket science to know when your berries are ripe. I harvest mine throughout the season
Raspberries can be harvested all the way from mid-summer up until the first frost. The fruit is ripe when it can be readily removed from the plant without applying much pressure , that is without squashing the berry. In some varieties a ripe raspberry will simply slide off the bush - but try and slide more into the bowl you are using to collect than your mouth.Fruit ripens at varying intervals, so you will be able to harvest raspberries throughout the season. In a good yielding crop it's not uncommon to harvest a nice yield every other day during peak yield times, and as stated earlier, it's a good practice to pick daily in very hot and dry weather.
See Pest Control for more extensive Data
How to Grow Raspberries
Winter ProtectionRaspberries grown in exposed , and the more tender varieties should be given some winter protection.
This can be done successfully several ways
- by bending the canes over and throwing a shovel of soil on the cane to hold it down on the ground. The bent over canes should then trap snow, which gives good protection. This usually results in less winter killing and better fruiting the following summer.
- In late November, cover plants with straw or leaves to a depth of 6 inches. In spring and summer, maintain a 4 inch mulch layer to reduce soil moisture loss and aid in controlling weeds. Mulching reduces the need for cultivation and will also help increase yields
- A dormant and growing season spray, Horticultural Spray Oil
References and Notes
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Montana State University [PDF File]
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