How to Plant Raspberries

Raspberries are among the most rewarding soft fruits to grow in a UK garden. They are delicious, versatile and can be eaten fresh, frozen, preserved or baked into countless recipes. Unlike some fruit crops that take years to establish, raspberries often provide a harvest in their first or second season, making them a popular choice for both beginners and experienced gardeners. They are relatively low maintenance once planted but require careful preparation to thrive and deliver abundant harvests. Learning how to plant raspberries properly ensures a long lived and productive patch that will provide fruit year after year.

Understanding raspberry plants
Raspberries belong to the genus Rubus in the rose family. They produce canes that sprout from underground roots and rhizomes. These canes live for two years. In the first year, the plant produces green vegetative canes called primocanes, which grow tall and leafy. In the second year, these canes become floricanes, producing flowers and fruit before dying back. New primocanes replace them each season, creating a continuous cycle. Understanding this lifecycle is crucial when planting and maintaining raspberries, as it informs pruning and training techniques.

Types of raspberries
There are two main types of raspberries grown in the UK: summer fruiting and autumn fruiting. Summer fruiting varieties bear fruit on floricanes in June and July. These require support such as wires or trellis, and after fruiting the old canes must be cut out to make way for new ones. Autumn fruiting raspberries, often called primocane raspberries, produce fruit on the current season’s growth from late August to October. They are easier to manage, as all canes can be cut down to the ground each winter. Many gardeners choose to grow both types for an extended season of fruit.

Choosing raspberry varieties
There are many excellent raspberry varieties to choose from. For summer fruiting types, popular choices include ‘Glen Ample’, known for its heavy yields and large berries, and ‘Malling Admiral’, which offers excellent flavour. Autumn fruiting favourites include ‘Autumn Bliss’, prized for its reliability, and ‘Joan J’, which produces thornless canes and sweet berries. Heritage and yellow fruited varieties also exist, adding diversity to the crop. When selecting varieties, consider whether you prefer an early summer harvest, a late autumn one, or a combination of both.

Selecting the right site
Raspberries thrive in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well drained soil. While they tolerate partial shade, full sun ensures the sweetest fruit. Avoid exposed or windy areas, as canes are tall and can be damaged. Raspberries dislike heavy clay or waterlogged ground, which leads to root problems. Raised beds or ridges improve drainage where necessary. Because raspberries remain in place for many years, it is important to choose the site carefully and prepare it thoroughly before planting.

Preparing the soil
Raspberries prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of around 6.0 to 6.5. Test your soil if possible and adjust with lime or sulphur as needed. Before planting, dig the soil to a depth of at least thirty centimetres, removing perennial weeds and incorporating generous amounts of organic matter such as compost or well rotted manure. This improves fertility, moisture retention and soil structure. Avoid planting raspberries where potatoes, tomatoes or peppers have grown recently, as these crops share diseases that can affect raspberries.

When to plant raspberries
Raspberries are best planted in their dormant season, between November and March, when bare root canes are available. Planting during this period allows the roots to establish before new growth begins in spring. Container grown plants can be planted at other times of year, but autumn and winter planting generally gives the best results. Avoid planting in frozen or waterlogged soil, as this hinders establishment.

How to plant raspberries
To plant raspberries, dig a trench about twenty centimetres deep and wide enough to accommodate the roots. Set the canes about forty five to sixty centimetres apart, with rows spaced at least one and a half to two metres apart to allow for air circulation and access. Spread out the roots and plant the canes so the soil level is just above the previous growing mark visible on the stem. Backfill with soil, firm gently and water thoroughly. After planting, cut the canes down to about twenty five centimetres above ground level to encourage strong new shoots.

Providing support
Summer fruiting raspberries require support as their tall canes can reach up to two metres. The most common method is to erect posts at each end of the row with horizontal wires stretched between them at intervals of about sixty centimetres. Tie the canes loosely to the wires as they grow, training them into neat rows. Autumn fruiting raspberries are shorter and self supporting, so they generally do not require this system, although light support can still be helpful in exposed locations.

Watering and feeding
Raspberries have shallow roots, so they require consistent moisture, especially during dry spells and while fruit is forming. Water deeply and regularly rather than giving light sprinklings. Mulching with compost, bark or straw helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Raspberries also benefit from feeding with a balanced fertiliser in spring, followed by a high potassium feed during the fruiting season to encourage sweet, plump berries. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as this produces leafy growth at the expense of fruit.

Mulching and weed control
Mulching is one of the most effective ways to care for raspberries. It prevents weeds from competing for nutrients and water, improves soil structure and keeps roots cool. Organic mulches such as well rotted compost, leaf mould or straw are ideal. Weeds can severely reduce raspberry yields, so regular hand weeding or hoeing is necessary, particularly in the first year. Deep cultivation should be avoided near the roots, as raspberries have a shallow root system that is easily damaged.

Pruning raspberries
Pruning depends on whether you are growing summer or autumn fruiting varieties. Summer fruiting raspberries should have the old floricanes removed after fruiting in late summer, cutting them down to ground level while leaving the new primocanes in place for next year’s crop. In winter, thin these new canes to about eight to ten of the strongest per metre of row. Autumn fruiting raspberries are simpler. All canes can be cut down to the ground each February, and new growth will produce fruit later that year. Pruning correctly ensures healthy plants and continuous harvests.

Common pests and diseases
Raspberries can be affected by pests such as aphids, raspberry beetle and spider mites. Netting may be needed to protect fruit from birds, which are quick to strip plants as berries ripen. Diseases include raspberry cane blight, root rot and viruses. Good air circulation, crop rotation and purchasing certified disease free canes help reduce problems. Mulching and careful watering also promote resilience. With proper care, raspberries can thrive for many years with relatively few issues.

Harvesting raspberries
Raspberries are usually ready for picking from early summer to late autumn, depending on the type. Berries are best picked when they are fully coloured and come away easily from the stem. Unlike some fruits, raspberries do not continue to ripen after picking, so they should be harvested at peak ripeness for the best flavour. Freshly picked raspberries are delicate and should be eaten or preserved quickly. They can be frozen, made into jams and desserts or enjoyed straight from the cane.

Storing and preserving raspberries
Because raspberries are soft fruits, they do not store for long once harvested. They can be kept in the fridge for two to three days but are best used immediately. Freezing is the most common method of preservation, allowing you to enjoy homegrown raspberries throughout the year. Simply spread the berries on a tray to freeze individually before transferring them to bags or containers. Raspberries can also be turned into jam, cordial, syrup or even liqueurs, preserving their flavour for months.

Common mistakes to avoid
Planting raspberries too close together reduces airflow, encouraging disease. Failing to support summer fruiting canes leads to tangled growth and reduced yields. Neglecting to water during fruiting results in small, dry berries. Forgetting to prune correctly means either poor harvests or unmanageable thickets. Planting in poorly drained soil often causes root problems. Avoiding these mistakes ensures healthy plants and bountiful harvests.

Why grow raspberries at home
Few fruits provide such a satisfying return on investment as raspberries. A small number of canes can produce kilograms of fruit each season. They are versatile in the kitchen, nutritious and full of antioxidants. They require relatively little space compared to other fruit crops and are easy to manage once established. Growing raspberries also allows you to explore heritage varieties with flavours rarely found in shops. With their combination of productivity, flavour and ease, raspberries are a must have for any fruit garden.

Conclusion
So, how do you plant raspberries? It starts with selecting the right variety, preparing fertile, well drained soil and spacing the canes properly. Summer fruiting raspberries need support and careful pruning, while autumn fruiting types are easier and require less maintenance. Both, however, reward the gardener with a generous harvest of sweet berries. With proper planting, pruning, feeding and watering, raspberries will provide fruit for many years. They are a long term investment in both your garden and your kitchen, delivering flavour, health and satisfaction season after season.