Growing your own raspberries is easy, and by following a few simple tips and tricks you can enjoy a raspberry bush that comes back and performs year after year. Look below at 10 tips for growing raspberries, and see how easy it can be to enjoy these berries yourself!
10 Tips for Growing Raspberries
There is nothing better than having bushes of raspberries right at your fingertips. Perfect for jams, jellies, canning, and desserts, raspberries are a useful fruit to grow and can really provide some bang for the buck!
Like raspberries? Want to grow raspberries but have no idea where to start? These tips for growing and maintaining raspberries will help you grow these sweet and tasty little fruits.
First, a few words about raspberries:
What is a raspberry?
The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus. Raspberry plants are perennial (means they come back year after year) with woody stems. Botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit – a collection of small fruits form the berry.
What kind of raspberries can you grow?
There are red raspberries, purple raspberries, and yellow raspberries. Pick the type of raspberry that grows best in your zone.
When to plant raspberries?
You can buy dormant raspberry plants during the early spring, which is also when you should plan on planting. Raspberry plants like to be planted in cooler spring weather, when the ground is just starting to warm up. You won’t see a lot of action at first, but don’t worry. Your dormant plant will start performing in no time.
Practice proper root care of raspberries:
Before you plant your raspberry plant, you want to soak the roots in a bucket for about two hours. This will give them a strong start! Aside from soaking the roots, you also want to make sure the hole you dig for your plant is at least 3 times the width of the plant. This way, the roots have a change to easily spread and seek the nutrients they need.
What kind of soil do I plant raspberries in?
Raspberries like well-drained soil with a pH between 5.8-6.5.
Do I plant raspberries in the sun or shade?
Raspberries will perform in part sun, but what they really love is full sun. Plant your raspberries where they will get at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Should you choose a space that gets less your plant will survive, it just may not thrive or produce a lot of berries.
Do Raspberries need support?
There are a few ways to offer some tender loving care and support for your raspberry plant. A trellis or stakes can help support the plant and prevent snapping once the fruit starts to form. A heavy layer of mulch around the base can help keep the roots cool and help the plant retain moisture.
How often to water raspberry plants?
Do not plant your raspberries in a wet area. However, you should water your raspberry plants a steady one inch of water per week, more if you live in an arid region.
Keep pests Away from your raspberry plants:
One of the biggest pests you will face is birds. A great way to protect the fruit of your plant is to use some type of scarecrow or hang shiny objects around the plant, or with netting. The scarecrow and shiney objects could scare birds from coming too close. The netting will keep the birds out, but may be sure to get netting that will not inhibit sunlight.
Too shoot or not to shoot, that is the question?
You may notice canes or shoots that come up from the plant. When you see these, quickly cut them back. They can distract the plant and cause the plant to waste nutrients. Instead, cut the shoot back and the plant will focus on creating fruit instead.
Harvest raspberries daily
You are unlikely to get fruit from your raspberries the first season or two that they grow. However, once your raspberries start blooming, harvest daily. Pick fruit as soon as it is ready and the plant will continue to produce new fruit. This might mean picking as much as twice per day in order to keep production up.
Once you have a nice harvest, consider these 15 Fresh Raspberry Recipes
Are you ready to enjoy some raspberries? Consider these tips for growing raspberries and you are sure to produce a crop you can be proud of.
Sources:
● The Old Farmer’s Almanac
● Burpee
● Merriam-Webster
If you would like more how to garden posts, check these:
● How To Grow Blackberry Bushes – here are my tips on growing blackberry bushes based on my experience with blackberry bush plants.
● How To Grow Your Very Own Strawberry Patch – If you love the fresh taste of strawberries, why not grow your own strawberry patch? You won’t believe how much better fresh strawberries straight from your garden will taste over commercially grown strawberries. They are berry, berry good!
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