How Tall Do Raspberries Grow?

Hardiness

• Raspberries grow wild, but domesticated varieties can be grown successfully in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones from 3 to 10 in the continental United States. What this means is that the plants can withstand low temperatures that range from -40 degrees F to +40 degrees F during the winter months.

Choosing a Variety

• In an article in "Fine Gardening," author Darlene White recommends selecting an everbearing raspberry variety. This type starts producing berries in July and continues producing right through the fall, offering the best return on your raspberry patch investment.

Pruning

• White adds that regular pruning allows new canes to grow that will produce fruit. The best time to prune is in the early spring while the plants are still dormant. The traditional method involves cutting all the canes down to about an inch above the ground. White recommends cutting away the year-old canes back to just below the fruiting area, which encourages them to produce more berries the same year. New growth emerges among the older canes and bears fruit later that same season.

Planting Recommendations

• Raspberries don't do well if they are allowed to stand in soggy soil especially in very rainy areas like the Northwest. Planting them in raised beds solves this problems and guards against the plants rotting before they become fully established. The tall canes may also need some kind of support in the form of trellises or wire mesh fencing as the canes often droop to the ground under the weight of the berries.