Trellis Ideas for Caneberries

Raspberries, also called caneberries, grow well on trellises.

Raspberries, sometimes called caneberries, are not only a delicious sweet fruit, they are a nutritious source of vitamins, fiber, minerals and antioxidants. Raspberries make delicious jellies and jams, fruit smoothies, yogurt and cereal toppers, pies and sorbets. Growing them in the garden provides a fresh source of healthy fruit. They grow on canes with thorns and prickles which have an aggressive and sprawling growth habit. It keeps plants healthier and is easier to prune plants and harvest berries when raspberry plants are supported by a sturdy trellis.

T Trellis

A common form of raspberry cultivation is to grow plants in a hedgerow with galvanized wire strung between two T trellises. Posts made from 2-by-4 or 4-by-4-foot weather-resistant lumber such as cedar are set at least 2 feet in the ground at each end of the hedgerow. Three- or 4-foot cross arms affixed two-thirds of the way up the posts form a T, anchoring the wire guidelines strung between them. Wire is anchored to hooks at each end of the cross arms to keep canes from bending down and tangling, keeping fruit off the ground and allowing good air circulation. Raspberry canes are planted in soil mounded in the middle of the row.

V Trellis

The V trellis is a variation of the T trellis. Two sturdy posts at each end of the growing row are set 2 feet into the soil at angles to form a V and wire is strung from each of them to V trellis posts at the other end of the row. Canes are planted in the middle of the row to be supported by the wires.

Hill and Post Trellis

The hill and post trellis is ideal for smaller growing areas where a long row isn’t available, or if you are only planning to grow a few raspberry canes. Set two steel or wooden fence posts 4 feet apart, mound soil around the base of the posts and string wire between the posts. Plant two or three canes in the mounds at each post and tie the growing canes to the wire so the berries receive optimal sunlight and air circulation.

Wooden or Metal Decorative Trellis

A wooden or metal decorative garden trellis is sufficient to grow one or two raspberry canes along the side of the house or shed. Simply secure the trellis to the wall or to posts and plant canes in front of it, tying them to the trellis as they grow.

References

• Fine Gardening: How to Grow Raspberries
• University of Illinois Extension: Small Fruit Crops for the Backyard -- Raspberries
• University of Maine Extension: Growing Raspberries and Blackberries