Tips on Growing Raspberry Bushes

Select Ideal Bushes

• Choosing a type of raspberry that grows well in your area increases the chances of having a bountiful harvest. A local nursery is an ideal place to start for your raspberry bush search. The employees are able to recommend raspberry varieties that work well in your climate. Another option is to take a field trip to a local berry patch. Since these farms grow the berries for a profit, they should be knowledgeable on the types of berries that work well for your area. If the berry farm sells different varieties of raspberries, you get a chance to taste them to determine which ones you like the best.

Everbearing Vs. Summer-Bearing

• Raspberries come in both everbearing and summer-bearing varieties. The everbearing raspberries typically start producing berries later in the summer, often around July, and continue producing into the fall months. Summer-bearing raspberries only produce fruit for about a month in the summer. They often begin producing fruit earlier in the summer. Consider how long you want to be responsible for caring for the plants and harvesting the berries. You get more berries from everbearing bushes, but you also have to tend to the plants for several months of the year.

Planting Advice

• Raspberries need an area that drains well with full sunlight. A higher area, such as a gentle sloping area, gives the bushes the air circulation they need, but avoid planting at the top of hill where the wind may be too strong. A raised planting bed is also an option to provide drainage and air circulation for the plants. Avoid areas where you have recently planted strawberries, tomatoes, peppers or potatoes. Planting the bushes in early spring is ideal.

Trellises

• A trellis system supports the raspberry bushes as they grow and become heavier with the fruit. A T-trellis system uses a T-shaped post made of either wood or metal at the end of each row. Wire or twine connected to screw eyes on each post run down the rows to provide the support. A V-trellis is another option. Two posts go into the ground at an angle to create a "V" shape at the ends of the rows.