Raspberries are a firm favorite with gardeners. They are very easy to grow and if you are not careful will spread and take over, popping up everywhere. There are two types of raspberries one type called summer raspberry and one called autumn raspberry. These obviously fruit at those times of the year. We will explain how to grow raspberries.
Raspberries are a great fruit to grow as you can pick and eat them straight from the canes that grow or you can freeze them and eat when you are ready for them
Choosing the right site
Choosing the right spot for your raspberry plants is extremely important. They need to be planted somewhere that is full sun. They need to be planted in soil that hold the moisture well and is weed free (unfortunatly you will have to keep it weeded)
You need to choose somewhere that the runners will not upset the neighbors as they tend to pop up in odd places from the roots which go through the ground. People also grow them in plant pots to stop them from spreading.
The flowers on raspberries need to be pollinated by the bees and insects so make sure they are somewhere that they can access them. If not you can help pollinate them yourselves by using a small paint brush.
How to Care for Raspberries
Raspberries respond to a little help from us the gardener. In spring it is good to sprinkle some fertiliser around the plants to give them some food. Then after that add some garden compost or well rotted farmyard manure. In the summer when the weather is hot make sure they are well watered. This helps them to form and swell.
How to Prune Raspberries
When pruning raspberries it is different for Summer and Autumn varieties.
Summer:- These raspberries grow on the year before new growth. so do not prune these ones to the ground. You can snip a bit of the top this will encourage new grow and to make them bushier. You prune the raspberries to the ground the ones that the raspberries grew on previously. These can be pruned straight after they have finished fruiting.
Autumn:- All the canes can be pruned to the ground for Autumn raspberries as they grow on the same cane that has grown that year. These can be pruned in the February.
Here you will be able to watch an example of me pruning my raspberries
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When to plant Raspberries
Summer and Autumn fruiting raspberries can be planted any time during the year when they are dormant. This is usually between November and March. Make sure the ground is not to wet, boggy or frozen before doing this. Its worthwhile having some Summer and Autumn fruiting raspberries then it will make you fruiting season much longer.
How to support Raspberries
Raspberries are best grown in rows along a fence or a wire which you can tie them to. This will stop the branches from snapping or bending under the weight of the fruit.
How to plant Raspberries
Raspberries are very easy to plant but they need a bit of help from us. First you need to clear the area you plant to plant them in. Dig it all over and clear any weeds that are growing – you need a nice fresh bed.
Once you have cleared the are add some well rotted manure to the soil and some general fertiliser – like fish bone.
The plants need to spaced out around 60cm apart if you are planting them in rows. Once you have planted cover with a nice amount of organic matter – avoid alkaline compost or too rich manure as you don’t want to burn the new shoots on the plants.
How to grow raspberries in pots and containers
If you don’t have the space to grow raspberries in the ground you can actually grow them in pots, this will also stop them from spreading. To do this you need to plant a single plant in a container that has a width of around 15 inches. Fill it with around 70% compost and 30% potting compost. Fasten the raspberry canes to bamboo canes to add weight.
With them being in compost they are more likely to dry out faster so make sure they are kept watered also feed them on a monthly basis in the growing season not when they are dormant November – February. Try an use rainwater when watering the raspberries.
Harvesting Raspberries
You will be able to pick the delicious Summer raspberries from Early Summer to the beginning of autumn. Autumn Raspberries are usually ready late summer through to October.
You can find out more information on Raspberries here. You can also learn about growing other vegetables here. Why not try growing your own flowers with our tips here.
