The Best Conditions for Raspberry Plants

Biological

• The perfect climate for growing raspberries is one with a long spring that warms slowly into summer. Winter should be short and moderate as raspberries are not frost hardy. If winters in your region are frigid, consider covering your bushes with burlap until the danger of frost has passed.

  Optimum soil conditions are sandy soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH reading; alkaline or clay-based soils cause wilted, yellowed leaves. Raspberries love ample organic matter and should be fertilized twice annually--once at the end of winter, and once just prior to summer. Keep raspberry patches clear of weeds; if the soil drainage is good, consider placing mulch at the base of plants to discourage weed growth.

  Full sun gives raspberries the best growth potential. Raspberries will also grow in partial shade, but the berries may be smaller and fewer.

Layout and Support

• Raspberries should be planted in trenched rows that have been worked prior to planting. The trenches should be 1 foot deep, 3 feet wide and 5 feet apart to allow for optimal root establishment and ease during harvest. Do not plant in areas that have had eggplant, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes planted within the last three years as this causes increased risk of soil-borne disease.

  Training your raspberry plants to grow vertically allows you to maximize small spaces and decreases the risk of the bushes invading other nearby growth. Secure a 7 to 8 foot tall pole at the end of each row and run wire horizontally at 2-foot intervals up the poles. Secure the raspberries loosely to the wire with twine or flexible wire. Alternatively, try growing the raspberries up a trellis.

Pruning

• Upon planting, raspberries require intensive pruning in order to properly establish their vast root system. Trim each bush so it is no higher than 6 inches above the ground. If they produce any berries during the first year, pinch them at the top of the stem to discourage growth. After the first year, common raspberries require pruning to 5 feet above ground twice annually: once in spring and once after the final harvest. Everbearing raspberries require pruning to get two harvests annually, or can be mowed to stubs once annually to get one large, late-summer harvest.