Growing Raspberries

Ripe raspberries

Raspberries bushes are a favorite of home gardeners and with good reason. These easy-to-grow biennial canes plants are hearty, flourish in most climates, and with proper care and maintenance, can produce pints of sweet, red berries the whole family can enjoy. This step-by-step tutorial will help you get started growing berries in your own garden.

Things You'll Need

• Young raspberry plants/canes
• Organic soil mix
• Compost (optional)
• Basic gardening tools
• Trellis or sticks for support

Instructions

1. Choose a location for your raspberries. Raspberry plants prefer full sunshine and do not flourish in even partial shade. Choose a spot that receives as much sun as possible for at least 6 hours of the main growing season.
   The spot should also have even moisture levels and good drainage. Young raspberries require lots of moisture or the cans will produce hard, sour fruits. However, too much moisture encourages root rot, of which there is no cure.

2. Prepare your soil. Raspberry canes prefer nutrient-rich, organic matter in their soil. Although it's not necessary, adding compost to the soil is a traditional (and proven) way of increasing your berry harvest.

3. Plant the raspberry plants and/or the canes (the stick-like branches produced from buds on the root system). It's best to plant no more than 6 plants/canes per square foot to give them plenty of room to thrive. As they mature, they will need the room. Prune out any canes that die in the season--leave only the heartiest canes.

4. Be patient. The first year, your raspberry canes will not bear fruit. This is perfectly normal. The next season, this cane will produce fruit (and then die).
   As your canes mature, replace in new, young canes every other year. This way, after the first season, you will always have at least 1 set of canes producing fruit.
   If the canes become tall and spindly, you should support them on a trellis or a stick.

5. The second season, you'll see the fruits begin as small, hard buds. They are ripe when they appears full, magenta-red, and pull easily away from the plant when picked.

Tips & Warnings

• Aphids and Japanese beetles love raspberry plants. If you find an infestation, hose off the raspberry canes with a gardening hose. If the infestation continues, purchase some ladybugs from your local gardening center. If your canes remain thin, unhealthy, or seem to be dying, there are a few possibilities: they aren't receiving enough sunlight or they need more nutrients. Try replanting in a sunnier spot and adding more fertilizer into your soil mix.

• Wear gardening gloves, a long sleeved shirt, and pants when working with raspberry canes. They are full of sharp brambles that can prick you.

Resources

• Growing Raspberries and Blackberries
• Garden Guides on Raspberries
• Growing Raspberries