Gardening Tips for Raspberry Plants

Planting Spot

• Choosing the right spot to plant your raspberries is key to having a successful harvest. Raspberries prefer a lot of sunlight and well-drained soils that have a lot of organic matter. Select a location that has a water supply but avoid low areas that remain wet later in spring. Avoid planting raspberries where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or eggplants have grown, because the roots of these crops can attack raspberries.

Preparation

• Soil preparation for raspberries can be time-consuming but it's a crucial part of having a successful crop. Raspberries do well in soil with a pH of 5.6 to 6.2. Planting a cover crop like rye, millet or oats can improve the amount of organic matter in the soil. You can also use barnyard manure or compost as a substitute for cover crops. Begin applying fertilizers to the soil early so it will be incorporated and evenly spread. Break up any clumps.

Management

• Plant raspberries in early spring to avoid hazardous cold weather. Keep the roots wet before and during planting. Raspberries should be grown with a trellis, which will improve quality and reduce disease problems. The trellis should be a T-shaped or V-shaped support system for the plants to grow on. This will encourage new cane growth in the middle of the row and make pruning easier.

Pruning

• Pruning is an important part of raspberry plant health. It reduces the spread of diseases, and improves fruit quality and yield. Removing all new canes outside of the desired plant row during the summer months increases the light source and air circulation of the middle row. This will increase fruit yield for next year. Also, remove any canes that show signs of disease or insect damage. Gray branches and peeling bark are indicators of diseases.