If you are looking to add big perennial fruit flavor to your landscape – then growing raspberries should high on your list!
Raspberries are a low-maintenance perennial crop that can provide fruit quickly. And continue to produce for years and years to come.
Raspberries are a member of the bramble or cane fruit family that includes blackberries and dewberries as well.
And although they are considered a perennial, there growth style is a bit unique.
Brambles produce fruit on 2 year-old canes. During the first year of growth, all of the plants energy is concentrated on building up strength.
But in year two, the canes utilize the power from the previous year’s growth and produce their fruit.
Although the canes die off after their second year, the plant continues to produce new canes each year as well.
This allows for an ongoing harvest on second year canes, year after year.
What And Where To Grow
Like their fellow bramble blackberry relative, raspberries can be grown on thorn or thornless canes.
In addition, they can be found in red, black and even golden plant varieties. (We have listed a few specific plant varieties at the end of the article.)
Selecting A Location
When it comes to where to plant raspberries, the more sunlight that can be found, the better.
All brambles need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight to form and ripen their fruit. But at least 8 hours of sun is a better choice.
Raspberries do not perform well in wet or low-lying areas, so select an area with good drainage.
Sloping hillsides work well. As will slightly mounding the soil where they will be grown.
How To Plant Raspberries
Raspberries prefer slightly acidic soil, although they will grow in nearly any soil type.
Whether planting bare roots or tranplants, amend the planting hole with equal amounts of sand, compost and soil.
This combination helps plants drain well, and have adequate nutrients for strong growth.
If your location is not on a hilliside, mound the planting area a few inches above the surrounding soil to help with drainage.
Growing Raspberries – Types To Plant
There are two styles of raspberry plants, uprights and vining. If you are planting vining styles, space plants around 4 to 6 feet apart. For erect types, space plantings 12 to 18 inches apart.
Mulch plants to keep the soil temperature regulated, and competing weeds to a minimum. Pine needles, which are slightly acidic, make an excellent mulch for brambles
Providing support for new plants can be helpful for plant growth and the gardener.
Both upright and trailing or vining raspberry plants benefit from support, helping to keep plants off the ground and from falling over. It also makes harvesting much easier.
Trailing varieties can grow 10 to 20 feet long, so fences, arbors, or post and wire supports are all excellent choices.
Growing Raspberries – Long Term Care
Raspberries do not need much in the way of fertilizers to continue growing and producing.
Adding a couple shovels of compost around the base of each plant crown each spring will provide more than enough nutrients. (See : How To Make Great Compost)
Pruning vines and canes will help keep plants strong and healthy. For fall bearing varieties, cut back all growth in mid-winter to promote strong early-spring growth.
For summer-fruiting varieties, simply cut back the brambles that produced fruit, leaving all first year growth brambles standing.
Growing Raspberries Varieties To Grow
Heritage Raspberry
The Heritage raspberry is a proven, old-time heirloom variety with good production.
Although it considered an everbearing variety, it will produce most of it’s crop during the mid-summer or early fall once established. Plant Link : Heritage Everbearing Raspberry plants
Ohio Treasure Everbearing Black Raspberry
Ohio Treasure is an upright black raspberry variety that requires little support. It thrives in zones 3 through 8. The canes do contain thorns. Plant Link : Ohio Treasure Black Raspberry plants
Joan J. Thornless Raspberry
The Joan J. thornless variety is an everbearing red raspberry with large firm berries. It is an excellent choice for those who are a bit fearful of picking around thorns. Plant Link : Joan J. Thornless raspberries
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