How to Plant Raspberry Plants

The year before you intend to plant raspberries, choose a site with full sun that's at least 300 yards from wild raspberry or blackberry plants. Choose an area where tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants or peppers have not grown for at least four years.

Remove all weeds from the area by applying herbicides according to package directions, or laying black mulch over the area and securing it with bricks or rocks.

After all vegetation has been removed from the raspberry patch, work compost into the top six to eight inches of soil. If you have rich loam soil, skip this step. You want soil that is fluffy, well worked (you should be able to plunge your fist into the soil without resistance) and well drained. Adjust the pH so that it is 5.6 to 6.5.

Erect a trellis system for your raspberries. Keep in mind that the plants should be spaced three to six feet apart, depending on the variety (ask your nursery the size of the adult plant), in rows that are 10 to 12 feet apart.

In early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, dig a hole that's five to six inches deep. Place your raspberry plant in the hole and cover it with soil. Plant the raspberry plant a few inches deeper than it was planted at the nursery; cover the bottom of the canes as well as the roots. Tamp the soil down firmly to eliminate air pockets.

Trim your canes back to 6 inches above the soil line, just above a strong bud.

Mulch around your plants, about 2 to 3 inches deep.

Water your raspberry plants well during the first year. Apply approximately 1 inch of water a week.