Growing Raspberries: How To Plant, Care And Harvest Raspberry VarietiesGrowing Raspberries are native to North America and can be grown anywhere from the Artic to the Equator. Summer ripening favorite varieties such as sweet tasting Dorma Red requires chilly weather and a significant dormant period. Growers in southern regions can try their hand at the tropical Mysore variety. In cooler areas, protected plants can bear berries December through June. Planting Raspberries As typical brambles growing raspberry varieties are propagated by taking suckers from the base of mature plants, from root cuttings, or using established plants. The latter choice requires less care the first year. Raspberries grow into bushy rambling plants and benefit from being grown on a trellis. Some bracing to keep plants off the ground and to spread the canes is typically all that is needed. Proper soil preparation when you grow raspberries can make the difference between success and failure. Raspberries need a well-drained bed, adequate moisture, and generous amounts of organic matter added to the ground before planting.
Several inches of enriched compost should be tilled into the plot. A raised planting bed is a good idea if drainage is poor.
Once the berries are planted, a thick layer of mulch should be added. Three inches is bare minimum and six inches is not over doing it. Drip lines or soaker hoses can be laid down the row before applying the mulch. Feed new plantings with 3 ounces of 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 every eight to ten weeks from February through September. Give mature vines five ounces per plant in February, June, and late August. Organic fertilizers like well-rotted manure can be applied at a rate of 10 to 12 pounds per 100 foot of row in early to mid winter. Very fresh manure should not be used until it has had a chance to rot for a few months. Keep the soil moist and remember annual mulching helps control weeds. Growing raspberries require an abundance of moisture. Just a few weeks without water in the summer can kill the plants. Growing raspberries bear fruit on the previous year's growth. In colder locations, mulch heavily to protect the fruiting stems. Even if they freeze, new spring growth may produce a small crop late in the season. Pruning Raspberries can be divided into three main groups: spring bearing, fall bearing, and ever bearing.If plants grow out of bounds, tip back canes a bit to keep them more compact. Once growing raspberries have produced a harvest cut canes to the ground. Allow new canes to grow for next year's crop. This yearly pruning and removal of old canes is often enough to keep pest problems under control. There are many trellis designs for the berries to manage the vigorous canes and support the fruit. The simplest system is a 3-wire 5-foot fence. Poles are set in the ground and the wires are strung out at regular intervals. The V type trellises work well for ever-bearing types. To keep pruning simple, the current season's canes can be tied to one side of the trellis. Next year as the old canes are removed, tie the new ones to the opposite side. Canes should be tipped when reaching the top wire to encourage branching which in turn increases yields. Avoid tipping after mid July to allow plenty of time for the fall crop's flower development. Harvest Growing raspberries develop their best quality fruit if allowed to ripen completely before harvesting. Ripe berries are a rich dark red color, soft to the touch, and release easily from the stems. The most difficult part is getting the delectable fruit indoors before the harvesters eat the entire crop! Uses Raspberries date back to prehistoric times. The raspberry is considered by many people to be the best tasting fruit around. Besides growing raspberries to make scrumptious tarts and jams, herbalists swear by raspberry leaf gargle for soothing mouth sores. For centuries, raspberry leaf tea has been used effectively to soothe sore throats. Brew a single cup in hot water with an ounce of dried raspberry leaves. The tea is often recommended to pregnant women to help relax the uterus and prevent diarrhea. Drinking up to three cups a day, the tea has tonic properties for stimulating milk production.
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