How To Plant & Prune Raspberries
Unpacking/Pre-Planting Care
When your raspberries arrive unpack the roots from their polythene and mulch packing; if they are dry stand the plants in a bucket of water for no more than half an hour.
What If I Can't Plant My Raspberries Immediately?
Ideally, your raspberries should be planted out as soon as possible. If this is not possible – i.e., if the ground is frozen or too wet to dig – 'heel' the plants into a shallow trench or else wrap the roots up in the bark chip and polythene they were originally packed in and store in a cool, frost-free place. Do not keep in a warm place as this will encourage premature growth. Every few days check that the roots are still moist, and plant out as soon as is practicable.
Planting Out
Raspberries perform best in full sun in the garden though they will tolerate some shade; deep shade will reduce cropping drastically. Raspberries prefer a rich, moist but free-draining soil that ideally has a slightly acid pH, though they will also grow perfectly well in moderately alkali soils. If your soil is particularly heavy planting raspberries using a ridge system or perhaps in raised beds will improve their performance.
Before planting, the incorporation of organic matter such as well-rotted manure (not fresh) or compost will give your plants the best start. Under no circumstances should you use any stimulants, fertiliser or bonemeal at planting time as such products will 'burn' any new root growth and may actually slow your plants' development!
Set the canes 18-24" (45-60 cms) apart; if you are planting multiple rows allow 6 ft between the rows. Plant firmly, laying out the fibrous roots in a shallow trench rather than planting them straight down in the soil. Do not plant canes too deep as raspberries are mainly shallow-rooting and planting too deep will discourage the formation of new canes.
After planting we suggest you prune the canes back to about 10" (25 cms).
Stout stakes should be inserted about 6-8 ft (180-245 cms) apart to provide support up to about 6 ft (180 cm) high. Attach straining wires to either side of the posts at 2 ft (60 cm) intervals. The canes will grow up between the two parallel wires.
Aftercare
It is essential to keep your raspberry canes free of weeds, but exercise caution when hoeing as raspberries are shallow-rooting and over-zealous hoeing will damage their root systems.
At the beginning of each spring season your raspberries will benefit from a mulch of well-rotted manure, bark chips or similar organic matter. This will help with reducing the need for weeding and aid moisture retention. At the same time you can also lightly top-dress the rows with a balanced base fertiliser and if you have access to wood ash (from a log fire or stove) top-dress with this as well.
In extended dry periods ensure your plants are watered thoroughly at least once a week. This is even more critical on lighter soils and when fruit is forming as otherwise you may end up with very small fruits.
The biggest threat to your crop will be birds; they love the berries as much as you do! Unless you want to share the crop, we recommend putting bird netting over the plants during the fruiting period. In the long term it may be worth considering a fruit cage.
Pruning
The pruning of raspberries causes concern to many people but it is actually not that complicated!
Summer-fruiting (floricane) raspberries
Cut down all the canes that have fruited to a height of 6" (15 cm) after the canes have finished fruiting. Any weak-looking new shoots should also be cut down. Keep tying in the remaining shoots to the support wires as they grow throughout the rest of the year. In early March prune off any 'die back' that has occurred over the winter and if the shoots have grown higher than your wire supports prune back to the level of the top wire.
Autumn-fruiting (primocane)raspberries – Traditional
These varieties produce fruit on the current season’s growth. To prune them cut down all growth to a height of 6" (15 cm) each February.
Autumn-fruiting (primocane) raspberries – Advanced
Much research has been carried out to discover the best method of cultivating autumn-fruiting varieties. From our own trials we have found that if you treat autumn-fruiting raspberries in the same way as normal summer-fruiting raspberries your plants will come into fruit approximately 2 weeks earlier. However, your berry size will be reduced, as will your overall yield.
Picking/Harvesting/Freezing
Raspberries that are going to be eaten fresh are best picked on the day they are going to be eaten as they do not store well (unless you freeze them). Care should be taken when picking the fruit as it is easily damaged and can be crushed by its own weight if you fill your picking bowl too full!
Raspberries freeze extremely well. A handy tip to avoid your fruit all sticking together when you freeze them is to spread the berries out in a single layer on a plate or tray; once frozen, transfer them to bags or containers.
9 Results
Raspberry Cane 'All Gold'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). The best of all the yellow raspberries! Sweet golden fruits almost crumble in your hand when picked. Canes are spined. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Autumn Bliss'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). Mid dark red fruits have a pleasant flavour. Berry size remains fairly constant through the season. Canes are spined. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Autumn Treasure'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). Large bright coloured fruits have a gorgeously sweet flavour and very little acid - and keep well. Excellent disease resistance. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Glen Ample'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). A high-yielding mid-season variety that produces large berries with good flavour and colour. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Glen Coe'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). Self Fertile. Delicious, intense dark purple fruit with a more bush / clump forming habit than usual raspberry canes. Great for jams and sauces too.
Available Now
Supplied as pot grown canes in 2 litre pots.
Raspberry Cane 'Malling Juno'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). An early fruiting variety which is medium to large in size with good firmness and lovely flavour. Self fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Malling Minerva'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). An early fruiting variety which produces heavy yields of good sized flavoursome fruits with excellent keeping qualities. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Tulameen Pearl'
Summer fruiting (Floricane), Mid season variety. Hybrid of Tulameen with large, delicious, red fruit. High yielding and easy to grow with amazing results and not many prickles either.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
The Ultimate Raspberry Cane Collection
A fine gift for the raspberry lover that will ensure a plentiful supply of raspberries throughout the summer and autumn season. Self fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as bare root raspberry canes approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
