The Growth Stages for Raspberries

Sprout

• Raspberry seeds will only germinate naturally after experiencing severe damage to produce young sprouts with sets of leaves. This growth stage of raspberries benefits from full sun, ample organic material and well-drained, sandy loam soil. Raspberries procreate by means of underground runners, producing new plants year-round in the area surrounding the original plant.

First-Year Canes

• Year-old canes of young raspberry plants are known as "primocanes" and are easily identified by their vivid green stems. Primocanes emerge as suckers from the underground stems of raspberry plants and typically grow through their first year, overwinter, and then fruit the following summer. These young canes do not usually flower or produce fruit.

Second-Year Canes

• Second-year raspberry canes are known as "floricanes," and it is these growths that produce flowers and fruit. Floricanes are distinguished by their thin brown layer of bark that completely covers the stems, and they usually die shortly after flowering and fruiting.

Collecting Fruit

• Raspberry brambles that are allowed to grow freely without pruning will have a continuous mixture of primocanes and floricanes at any time, thus some of the plant will produce fruit on alternate years. The fruit is ready to be harvested when the berry can be easily separated from its core, also known as a receptacle. When ripe for picking, raspberries are extremely perishable, so harvesting should occur frequently. Raspberries can be stored for up to a week in shallow containers in environments of about 33 degrees Fahrenheit.