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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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| Yates Association |
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Growing Raspberries |
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Raspberries can be grown on a wide range of soil types, but do best in full sunlight in deep loan soils with good drainage. Poorly drained soils should be avoided. Avoid areas where raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplants have been grown within the last 3 years. You should also avoid planting within 500 feet of existing cultivated or wild brambles, because of potential disease problems. Weeds, especially perennials, should be eliminated a season in advance of planting. Plant rooted canes early in spring and set tissue culture plantlets after danger of frost has passed. Red and yellow raspberries should be spaced 3 feet apart within the row and black and purple raspberries 4 feet. The distance between rows should be 9 feet. Remove old canes that are attached to the new plant because they are a source of disease. Do not fertilize for several weeks after planting and water liberally because brambles have shallow root systems. Apply no more than 5 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 linear feet of row the first year and no more than 10 pounds in subsequent years. Apply fertilizer only in the early spring before flowering. Avoid using fertilizers that contain chlorides. Irrigation will likely be required between bloom and harvest. When necessary, irrigate early in the day. Cultivate the area between rows from early spring to mid-July to control weeds and eliminate suckers. To avoid injuring roots, cultivate no deeper than 2 inches. A grass strip can eventually be established between rows. Red and yellow raspberries are commonly grown in rows 12 to 18 inches wide. In March, on summer-bearing varieties, remove all weak or damaged canes, and thin out the remaining ones leaving 3 to 5 canes per foot of row. Once these canes have borne fruit, remove them after harvest to minimize competition with the new growing canes. If you do not intend to use a trellis for support, cut the canes back so they are 3 1/2 to 4 feet in height. Fall-bearing raspberries, like Heritage, produce best when grown only for a fall crop. All canes are cut off at ground level in March before growth starts. This system eliminates the need for a trellis. Summer-bearing varieties will not produce fruit when managed this way. Black and purple raspberries are grown in a hill system. In March remove all weak or damaged canes and thin out the remaining ones, leaving 3 to 5 of the largest canes per hill. The laterals of both black and purple raspberries should be pruned back so they are 8 inches long. Old canes should be removed as soon as the fruit is harvested. In June, new developing canes need to be topped on black and some purple raspberries. Topping involves removing the top 4 inches of growth. When the cane reaches 24 inches in height. Two common purple raspberry cultivars, Brandy Wine and Royalty should not be summer topped. Raspberries do not keep well on the plant and must be harvested every two or three days. Expect a small crop the first year after planting. Everbearing reds may produce a small crop in fall of the planting year. Production reaches its peak the third year after planting and slowly declines in subsequent year. Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
