How Long Do Raspberries Grow?

Planting Raspberries

• Raspberries grow best under full sunlight and in well-drained, sandy loamy soils that are high in organic content. Raspberries are most suited to regions with temperate summers and cold winters, but specific cultivars can be grown in other climates as well.

Growth Cycle

• As with all other food plants, knowing the exact growth cycle from germination to maturity is far from an exact science. The time window of when your raspberries will be at full maturity is in large part dependent on which cultivar you chose to plant. The name of the cultivar often indicates how long that cultivar takes to grow -- for instance, "everbearing" or "fall bearing" cultivars. Raspberries are considered perennial plants, but their fruit-bearing "canes" only live for two years. New canes are produced each year but will not bear fruit until they are in their second year.

Harvest

• Black raspberries are generally ripe by midsummer. Red raspberries ripen slightly later. Raspberries are ready to be picked when you can easily pull them off the vine by hand; they should have little to no resistance. Harvested berries should be used as quickly as possible since they perish quickly.

Other Considerations

• Growth cycle and harvest times vary widely depending on a near limitless number of unique factors. If a winter is longer than expected, or your raspberries are victims of insects or disease, you could see drastic differences in growth cycles and harvest times.