Growing raspberries in containers or in the ground at home is easy. The rewards of this great fruit are worth the little effort that is required to grow them. Apart from the health benefits that you get from them, they are delicious.
Raspberries are popular summer fruit and can be used to make jams, sauces, juices, and other delicious treats for yourself and your family. However, you must always consider several things when you are growing your own raspberries, and we will discuss them here.
Here are all the details that you need to grow raspberries. Follow the 7 steps and you’ll be reaping the rewards long before you know it.
Details for Growing Raspberries
| Planting Months | November to March |
| Harvest Months | May to June |
| Temperature to Plant | 60F |
| Planting Depth | Bare Root Plant |
| Spacing | Canes 18 inches apart |
| Sunlight | North to south |
| Direction | 60F |
| Drainage | Well-drained |
| pH Level | 5.5 – 6.5 |
| Companion Plants | Chives, garlic, onions, leeks |
| Health Benefits | Gallic acid, quercetin, Vitamin C |
Seven Steps to Growing Raspberries
Soil Type for Raspberries
Raspberries like soil that is really rich in nutrients, so if you have chickens or other sources of animal manure, use this strategically to prepare a rich soil for them. They do not like frozen soil, so the ground should be properly thawed before planting.
Soil pH Testing
You need to make sure that you accurately test your soil to give your plants the best chance.
Versatile Raspberries Like a Variety of Soil
Both clay and sandy soil can be used for growing your raspberries. However, you must ensure that the soil drains very well. Consider using raised beds for your raspberries if you find that the soil is always very wet. This will help to provide the kind of drainage they need to thrive.
Adding Lime
Raspberries thrive in a 5.5 to 6.5 pH level, so sometimes you may need to alter the characteristics of the soil to get what you want. if you are not sure what type of acidity or alkalinity is present in your garden, do a soil analysis. This is easy to do with the help of your local farm store or agriculture outreach office.
In some cases, you can think about using lime in your garden to make the soil have a higher pH.
Preparing Bare Roots for your Raspberry Patch
Raspberries are grown from bare roots and will last up to 15 years if you care for them properly. This means that the soil also needs to be prepared well, so you can enjoy delicious raspberries with your homemade ice cream for years to come.
The bare roots can be planted once the frost is over, in early spring, and should always be replanted tat the same depth they were originally at. Always apply a layer of mulch after you plant the bare roots.
Germination
The best way to germinate your seeds so that they have a great start is with a germination kit. Seeds that are grown this way produce greater results.
Choosing the Right Variety
Raspberries are really easy to grow, and many people make their selection of a particular variety based on taste. most varieties will grow well and bear all year long while some only bear in the summer. Some are more resistant to disease than others.
The plants that bear right through the year will even produce tasty berries in the fall.
Planting Raspberries
Raspberries like open areas with a lot of Sun. Raspberry plants like to be exposed to sunlight at least 6 to 8 hours of the day. Since diseases can be spread from eggplants to raspberries, do not select an area where you have previously planted eggplants or tomatoes, since this may lead to wilting.
Containers
If you are looking to plant your raspberries in a container, ensure the pot is at least 5 gallons, the bigger the better. The roots like to grow far, so having a large pot gives the plant more chance. Plant in the spring to allow for continued growth into the summer.
Ensure your container has drainage, like gravel. Follow the rest of the steps to be successful and fertilize the soil yearly as there will be none traveling from the ground.
Place against a wall or use canes or trellis for the plants to grow along, which will promote growth.
Spacing
Raspberries like their space. Remember that you will need to prune the plants, so leave enough space for any member of your family to move freely around the plants to prune them. If you use a hedgerow, space the rows up to 12 feet apart.
Raspberry Companion Plants
Raspberry plants are usually improved by companion plants. Cover crops like Japanese millet can be grown for just one season. After that, they can readily be tilled in to add nutrients to the soil.
Also, consider adding spring oats and winter rye to be used as cover crops for raspberry. Garlic, chives, leeks, and onions will repel certain animals and insects.
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Raspberries can rot if they get too much water. Ensure that the soil has good drainage and you water regularly. If they get enough water, they will produce more fruit.
Watering While Fruiting
When raspberries are fruiting, they need 1 to 2 inches of water a week. Always ensure that when you touch the soil, it feels a little moist but not soggy. A drip line is always better than overhead irrigation for these plants.
Companion plants can help to deter many of the pests that can destroy your raspberry plants. Consider planting yarrow, which repels harlequin beetles. Other pests include Japanese beetles, squash beetles, and ants.
Attract Bees
Like other fruit, raspberries require pollination, so it is important to attract bees to your raspberry patch with plants like yarrow and tansy. Yarrow helps to repel certain insects as well, while garlic repels rabbits and deer.
Raspberries must be picked as soon as they ripen. This usually occurs in midsummer and until the first frost, depending on the variety that you choose to grow. They will not ripen any further after you remove them from the vine. They will be firm and bright red when they are ready to be picked.
Selecting Berries
Do not pick any raspberries that have a hole. That means an insect has already bitten their way inside and that berry will spoil quickly, leading to spoilage of the others in your basket.
No one wants to see fuzz on the raspberries that they have worked so hard to cultivate. Do wash your raspberries if you are not planning on eating them right away. Select a breathable container and place them in there, in your fridge.
Dehydrating
One of the issues people have is that their crops produce all at once. The best way to overcome this is with a dehydrator so you can store your food for years and the flavor is amazing.
Freezing Raspberries
If you plan to enjoy your raspberries for a long time, freeze them. You can simply wash them properly, dry them with a paper towel and put them in small quantities in a sealed bag or a plastic container. Once frozen they will keep for up to 12 months.
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