How to Grow Raspberry Plants

Backyard gardening enthusiasts looking for a flavorful summertime treat should consider growing raspberry plants. Once you get past their thorn-covered stems, raspberries serve up a mix of sweetness and tartness and and they can be eaten fresh, baked into pies, frozen or used in jams and jellies. To grow raspberry plants is easy given their hardiness. Simply put them in a sunny, well-drained area, water and fertilize them occasionally, and a bounty of fresh fruit high in antioxidants will be yours for the picking.

10-10-10 fertilizer
Shovel
Manure

Instructions

- 1
  Identify an area of your yard that receives full sun. Select an area that drains well and is not susceptible to frost pockets. Rid the area of any perennial weeds, ideally by planting a cover crop one year earlier. Apply 10-10-10 fertilizer into the soil before planting your raspberry bush in late winter or early spring.
- 2
  Dig a hole approximately 8 inches deep and place a two-inch layer of manure in the hole. Position the raspberry plant in the hole on top of the manure, being sure to submerge the plants about 2 inches deeper than they were in their previous container. Refill the hole with dirt, covering the raspberry's roots. Tamp down displaced dirt around the stem. If you are planting more than one raspberry bush, space them at least 3 feet apart. Water immediately after planting and then at a rate of 1 inch a week thereafter
- 3
  Turn over the soil early during the plant's first summer to help control weeds. Place a 4- to 8-inch deep layer of mulch around the plant once it takes root and is established. Consider building a trellis to help provide support if raspberry cane is unable to support itself.

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