General
Raspberries are vigorous, suckering brambles grown for sweet, aromatic berries. They are extremely hardy and productive in cool climates. There are two main types: summer-bearing (floricane) that fruit once on last year’s canes, and autumn-bearing/primocane that fruit on current-year canes (often from August until frost). Plant in rows with support wires for straight, well-lit canes. Keep the root zone evenly moist and mulched. Allow some suckers to replace older canes, but contain spread with edging if needed.
Light
Full sun for best yield; tolerates light shade, especially in hotter areas.
Soil type
Deep, humus-rich, well-drained loam with steady moisture; avoid waterlogging and very heavy clay.
Water requirement
Consistent moisture; 25–40 mm per week during flowering and fruit swell. Mulch to keep roots cool.
Nutrient requirement
Moderate; high potassium and magnesium, low-to-moderate nitrogen to avoid lush, weak canes.
Precultivation
Most gardeners propagate raspberries from dormant one-year canes or root divisions rather than seed. If raising from seed, stratify 2–3 months cold, then sow in Feb–Mar under cover at 15–20°C; germination is slow and variable. For practical purposes, purchase certified disease-free plants of named cultivars suited to your zone (e.g., ‘Glen Ample’ summer-bearing; ‘Polka’ or ‘Autumn Bliss’ primocane).
Planting
Plant in early spring once air temps are consistently above 5°C and soil is workable. Space 40–50 cm between plants in-row and 1.8–2.5 m between rows. Set crowns just below soil level; water in well and mulch 5–8 cm with composted bark, leaves, or straw. Install a simple trellis: two wires at ~60–90 cm and 120–150 cm. In windy sites, use sturdier posts. Avoid planting where solanaceous crops have grown recently (verticillium risk).
Pruning
Summer-bearing (floricane): Immediately after harvest (Aug–Sep), remove to the ground all canes that fruited; retain 6–8 of the strongest new first-year canes per meter of row and tie them in. Late winter (Feb–Mar), thin/tip if needed and remove any winter-damaged wood. Autumn-bearing (primocane): Option A (single autumn crop): cut all canes to ground in late winter (Feb–Mar). Option B (two crops): after autumn harvest, leave the sturdiest canes; they will fruit early the next summer, then remove them post-harvest.
Maintenance
Keep a 60–90 cm weed-free, mulched strip. Water deeply during dry spells, especially from flowering to harvest. Feed organically: early spring apply 2–3 cm compost plus a balanced, low-N, high-K organic fertilizer; after harvest, top up mulch and add potassium-rich feeds (e.g., comfrey mulch). Monitor for suckers escaping the row and either lift as new plants or cut at origin. Net against birds if needed. In coldest zones, mulch crowns before deep freezes.
Harvest
Pick every 2–3 days when berries detach easily and are fully colored and aromatic. Morning harvest in cool weather extends shelf life. Use shallow containers to avoid crushing. Refrigerate promptly; best flavor fresh or frozen within hours. Summer-bearing harvest is typically mid-July to mid-August; primocane types fruit from August until frost.
Common issues
• Drought → small, crumbly berries: increase mulch and irrigation. • Verticillium wilt: avoid solanaceous predecessors; use resistant cultivars; improve drainage. • Cane blight and spur blight: avoid wounding; prune in dry weather; remove infected canes. • Raspberry beetle/fruitworm: early flowering monitoring; encourage beneficials; use fine mesh before bloom if pressure is high. • Spotted wing drosophila (SWD): harvest frequently, remove overripe fruit, fine netting with 0.8 mm mesh, maintain sanitation. • Iron deficiency on high pH soils: acidify slightly and apply chelated iron if needed.
Pollination
Self-fertile, insect-pollinated; cross-pollination by bees can increase yield and berry size.
Companion plants
Clover or low-growing legumes as living mulch, garlic/chives, marigold, phacelia, borage, comfrey (for mulch), yarrow, dill.
Incompatible plants
Tomato, potato, pepper, aubergine (verticillium risk); strawberries (shared pests/diseases); blackberries close by (disease carryover); large shallow-rooted trees.
