- The familiar raspberry, from the classic red to the yellow and black varieties, is grown in all temperate climates of the world. Its various species are native to both the Americas and Eurasia. Most varieties are perennial and have the familiar sharp thorns. Flowering in summer, raspberry ripens in mid to late summer. Raspberries are generally easy to grow and often grow in naturalized patches along meadows and roadsides.
- Raspberries can be purchased in pots in garden centers or in bare-root form from mail-order sources. Potted plants offer the benefit of being easy to plant, hitting the ground running with their fuller root system the first season. Bare-root plants, on the other hand, allow the commercial grower to process raspberry plants efficiently while they are dormant, then sell and ship them economically. Always buy from reputable sources so you know the plants are virus-free.
- Regardless of whether you buy potted or bare-root raspberries, improve the planting hole with organic matter like composted manure, leaf mold or garden compost. For bare-root plants, leave a mound of improved soil in the bottom of the planting hole over which you'll spread the plant's roots. Cover the roots with soil, watering them in to gently tamp down the soil. Potted plants can be fertilized right away with a balanced fertilizer -- 10-10-10, for instance -- but wait two weeks to fertilize bare-root raspberries.
- Raspberries' naturalized roadside environment means that it prefers full sun. Mulch helps retain moisture as well as protects roots from drying sun and wind. Raspberries prefer slightly acidic soil -- about 6 to 6.8 pH -- so amend alkaline soils with iron sulphate or aluminum sulphate. Raspberries can be staked to keep them off the ground and make harvest easier. There are raspberries for every climate. Contact your local agricultural extension office for specific variety recommendations.
previous post