Types of Red Raspberries for Michigan Plantings

Latham

• Latham are red raspberries with good winter hardiness characteristics that thrive in cooler summers, producing one crop a year. Plants are hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8, grow to between 4 and 5 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 2 feet wide, and produce white flowers in April and May. They enjoy full sun but tolerate partial shade and require a medium amount of water and care. For the best results, plant these raspberries in rich, slightly acidic, moist but not wet soil with good drainage. Gardeners with heavy clay soils find growing these plants in raised beds helps offset the typical drainage issues this kind of soil presents.

Heritage

• Heritage are red "ever-bearing" raspberries that produce medium-size fruits. These raspberries do not require staking, are hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 11, and grow to between 4 and 5 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 2 feet wide. White blooms appear in July, and fruits are harvested in southwest Michigan from the first week of September until the first cold snaps come in. Plants enjoy moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter and need a moderate amount of water and maintenance. Plant in locations with full sun or partial shade, protecting them from unusually hot summer weather that stunts the growth of these red raspberries.

Autumn Bliss

• Autumn Bliss are "ever-bearing: red raspberries with earlier harvests than the Heritage variety. In the southwest of Michigan, the first large fruits of this raspberry are ready to pick from August 15 and plants continue producing until the frosts. This variety of raspberry cane grows unsupported, likes moist, slightly acidic soils and locations with full sun or partial shade. Autumn Bliss is an aphid-resistant red raspberry variety, meaning it's not prone to aphid-borne viruses.

Boyne

• Boyne are high-yielding and very cold-hardy red raspberries plants that produce firm medium-size berries in Michigan gardens in the middle of the summer. Boyne are suitable for planting in USDA Zones 4 to 8. Shorter than average raspberry plants, Boyne need no staking to support the profuse crops of berries, which do not weigh down the canes.