Grow Your Own Raspberries

Raspberries are easy to grow and will start producing fruit during their second year and for many years to come.

Location

Both red and black raspberries like well-drained moist soil in full sun.

Planting

Plants should be planted 3’ apart in rows and with 6’ between rows. Mix a 2” layer of peat moss into the soil where you will be planting the raspberries. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots of the plant. Set the plant into the hole with the crown at soil level. Be careful you do not plant too deeply. Firm the soil around the plant and water thoroughly using a starter fertilizer and water mixture. Finish with a 3” layer of mulch.

Fertilization

Raspberries should be fertilized with a starter fertilizer when planted and monthly for the first growing season. After that fertilize with either a 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring and again in fall.

Harvest

Red raspberries are ready to pick when they turn fully red and begin to push away from the stem. Black raspberries should be picked as soon as they become sweet. The berries are delicate so use small baskets so they do not become crushed.

Maintenance

Black raspberries are susceptible to viral diseases and should not be planted within 100 ft of red raspberries, blackberries, or wild raspberries or blackberries.

Pruning

Raspberries are produced on last year’s growth. While this old growth is blooming and bearing fruit new shoots will emerge from the base of the plant. Remove all but 5 of these shoots. After harvest cut all the producing canes to the wire. Cut these new canes back to a few inches above the wire to encourage lateral growth. Some red and yellow raspberries are everbearing and will produce berries on the new canes in fall. After you harvest this fall crop, cut back the portion of the cane that fruited. In late winter, cut the lateral branches back to 12-18”.

Find the perfect variety of raspberry plants for your homegarden needs by searching through our extensive library here!