Raspberries are a delightful addition to any garden, offering sweet, juicy fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or preserved. Acclaimed author and gardening expert Jackie French shares her complete guide to growing raspberries, ensuring even novice gardeners can achieve a successful harvest.
Choosing the Right Raspberry Variety
According to French, selecting the appropriate variety is crucial. Summer-fruiting raspberries, such as 'Willamette' or 'Glen Ample', produce fruit on previous year's canes, while everbearing varieties like 'Heritage' fruit on both old and new canes. For Australian gardens, French recommends 'Chilcotin' and 'Nootka' for their resilience.
Site Selection and Soil Preparation
Raspberries thrive in full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. French advises avoiding areas where tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants have grown recently to prevent soil-borne diseases. Prepare the soil by incorporating plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, to a depth of at least 30 centimetres.
"Raspberries are greedy feeders," French notes. "They need rich, fertile soil to produce abundant fruit." She recommends a balanced fertiliser applied in early spring and again after fruiting.
Planting Raspberries
Plant raspberry canes in late autumn or early winter while they are dormant. Space plants 50 centimetres apart in rows 1.5 metres apart. French emphasises planting at the same depth as they were in the nursery, firming the soil gently around the roots. Water thoroughly after planting and apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Support Systems
Raspberries require support to keep canes upright and improve air circulation. French suggests a simple post-and-wire trellis: set sturdy posts at each end of the row and run two or three wires between them at heights of 60, 120, and 180 centimetres. Tie canes to the wires as they grow.
Pruning and Maintenance
Proper pruning is essential for healthy plants and maximum yield. For summer-fruiting varieties, French advises cutting out all canes that have fruited immediately after harvest, leaving the new green canes to grow. In late winter, thin these new canes to about 10 per metre of row. For everbearing types, prune all canes to ground level in late winter for a single autumn crop, or selectively prune for both summer and autumn harvests.
French warns against over-pruning: "Each cane will produce fruit only once, so you need to maintain a balance of old and new canes for continuous production."
Watering and Feeding
Raspberries need consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting. French recommends drip irrigation to keep water off the leaves and reduce disease risk. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to retain moisture and keep roots cool. Feed with a potassium-rich fertiliser in late winter and again after fruiting.
Pest and Disease Management
Common pests include raspberry cane borer, aphids, and spider mites. French suggests monitoring regularly and using insecticidal soap or neem oil as needed. Diseases like powdery mildew and botrytis can be minimised by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Remove and destroy any infected canes promptly.
"Healthy plants are less susceptible to pests and diseases," French emphasises. "Good soil, proper spacing, and regular maintenance are your best defences."
Harvesting Raspberries
Raspberries are ready to pick when they easily detach from the core and are fully coloured. Harvest in the morning when fruit is cool, and handle gently to avoid bruising. French advises picking every two to three days during peak season. Fresh raspberries can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen for longer use.
Propagation
Raspberries can be propagated from suckers or tip layering. French recommends digging up healthy suckers from established plants in autumn or early spring and replanting them. Alternatively, bend a cane tip to the ground, cover it with soil, and it will root by autumn, ready to transplant the following year.
With these expert tips from Jackie French, growing raspberries can be a rewarding and delicious endeavour. Whether you have a large garden or a small backyard, a well-tended raspberry patch will provide years of bountiful harvests.
