Raspberries
Raspberries are grouped into two categories: summer fruiting (June- August) and autumn fruiting (September – through to first frosts).
Autumn raspberries need a warm, sunny position so that they ripen before the first frosts, but summer raspberries will grow in most places that are not in deep shade, although the sunnier the better.
They require well drained soil, rich in organic material. Before planting the area should be dug over, weeds removed and manure or compost well dug in to the planting area.
Plant in winter buying certified plants from a reputable, source so they are vigorous and free from pests and diseases, either from a fruit nursery or a garden centre with good fruit selection.
Raspberries should be spaced 35-45cm apart along the row. If planting more than one row allow 2m between rows.
Firm the soil around the newly planted canes and cut back the bare canes to 25cm above soil level. In the spring they grow into canes 1.2- 1.5m high.
Autumn fruiting raspberries fruit on the current season’s canes (one year old). As the canes are only one year old they do not need an elaborate staking system to support them, you can just put canes/ small wooden tree stakes in the ends of the rows and tie string/ wire around to support the canes as they grow.
Summer fruiting raspberries go haywire unless tied to a support, usually consisting of 1.5m tall posts at 2m intervals with wires strung horizontally at 50 and 1.4 metres from the ground.
Once the raspberries start to ripen, pick every 2-3days to get. Eat as soon as possible as they do not keep for more than 2 days in a fridge.
In late winter (January/ February) cut down all of the fruited canes autumn raspberry to just above ground level (1cm). Raspberries spread by suckers growing under the ground, pull out any that appear outside of your row when the suckers are young.
To prune summer flowering raspberries remove all fruited canes in late summer and thin out the new shoots that will carry next year’s crop to, roughly, one very 15cm or six inches.
In the spring, spread a balanced fertilizer e.g. Growmore, at 100g per m2 (3oz per yd.) and if possible lay a 7cm deep mulch of well rotted manure or other organic matter around the plants.
For further information please see: www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/raspberry.asp
