Growing Raspberries

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Growing RaspberriesHarlene Hatterman-Valenti

Raspberry terminology

� Three fruiting types by color:

� Black

� Purple

� Red

� Yellow – reds that don’t make red pigment

� Two fruiting types by crop period

� Floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)

� Primocane fruiting (everbearing or fall-bearing

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Primocanes versus Floricanes

� Floricane fruiting

� Will have both.

� Primocane fruiting

� Will have on primocanes.

Finding the right spot

� Full sunlight

� Well-drained soil

� Supplemental watering (1-1.5 in/wk flowering-harvest)

� Fertilize annually (2-4 tbs 33-0-0/plant)

� Good air circulation

� Sensitive to desiccation

� Space reds 2-3 ft, bl/pur 4 ft apart

� Trellis to support & keep in row (T or V trellis)

� Self-fertile, but bee pollination will help

� Need to prune annually

� Rabbits love to nibble cane bark!

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Through the seasons

Follow this list of tasks for floricane (summer-bearing) red, yellow, black, and purple raspberries.

Things to do When to do them

For red and yellow raspberries, cut canes back to 4-5 feet tall

before growth beginsMarch

For black and purple raspberries, cut side branches back to 12-18

inches; prune all but 4 to 5 canes per hill to the groundMarch

Plant bare-root transplants as soon as the soil can be worked April, May

Plant potted transplants after threat of frost has passed May, June

Keep an eye out for spider mites and Japanese beetlesJune through

August

Pinch black and purple raspberry cane tips July, August

Harvest July, August

Cut fruit-producing canes to the ground after harvest August

Apply mulch for winter protection November

Set up fence around plants if rabbit damage is expected during

winterNovember

Through the seasons

Follow this list of tasks for primocane (fall-bearing) red and yellow raspberries.

Things to doWhen to do

them

For fall-only primocane raspberries, cut all

canes to the ground before growth beginsMarch

Plant bare-root transplants as soon as the soil

can be workedApril, May

Plant potted transplants after threat of frost

has passedMay, June

Keep an eye out for spider mites and Japanese

beetles

June through

August

HarvestAugust,

September

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Pruning: reds 6-8 floricane/ft

bl/pur 5-9 floricane/plant

MN cultivar recommendations

https://www.noursefarms.com/category/raspberry-plants/

Red raspberry cultivars recommended for northern gardens.

CultivarFruiting

type

HardinessFreezing

qualityDescription

Zone 4 Zone 3

Autumn

Bliss

Primoc

aneGood Fair

Very

good

Large clusters of bright red, mildly

sweet berries. Early ripening.

Autumn*

Britten

Primoc

ane

Very

goodGood

Very

good

Very large, firm, flavorful berries. Early

ripening.

Boyne*Florica

ne

Very

goodGood

Very

good

Very hardy. Produces deer red, medium

size, tender, sweet berries.

CarolinePrimoc

aneGood Fair Good Very large, rich, sweet berries.

EncoreFlorica

ne

Very

goodFair Good

Sturdy, vigorous, nearly thornless

upright plants produce a late season

crop of large, sweet, firm berries.

FestivalFlorica

ne

Very

goodGood Fair

Nearly thornless plants. Less vigorous

plants, but productive. Medium bright

red berries.

HeritagePrimoc

ane

Very

goodGood Good

Produces large, bright red, super-sweet

berries on vigorous, upright canes.

Red raspberry cultivars recommended for northern gardens.

CultivarFruiting

type

Hardiness

Zone 4 Zone 3

Freezing

qualityDescription

Killarney FloricaneVery

goodGood Good

So productive it will weigh down the upright

canes. Firm, sweet fruit. Disease resistant.

Latham* (1920)

FloricaneVery

goodGood Very good

Vigorous plants produce lots of large, sweet,

firm, bright red berries. Disease resistant.

Nova FloricaneVery

goodGood Very good

Very hardy plant with fewer thorns. Medium

size, firm, bright red berries with a good,

slightly tart flavor.

Prelude Floricane Fair Poor GoodEarly ripening, medium-large coral red berries.

Second crop in fall.

Polana* Primocane Good Good GoodLarge, firm berries with good flavor. Early

ripening.

Summit Primocane Fair Poor UntestedUpright habit allows for growing as a shrub or

hedge. Mild flavored berries.

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MN cultivar recommendations

Yellow raspberry cultivars recommended for northern gardens.

CultivarFruiting

type

Hardiness

Freezing

qualityDescription

Zone 4 Zone 3

Anne* Primocane Good Fair GoodWidely adapted plants produce pale, yellow, very

sweet, mild berries. Heat tolerant.

Fallgold PrimocaneVery

goodGood Untested

Produces large, golden, firm, sweet berries. Very

hardy.

Honeyqueen Floricane Good Fair PoorHoney-sweet, peach colored soft berries are

produced on arched, spiny canes.

MN cultivar recommendations

Purple raspberry cultivar recommended for northern gardens

CultivarFruiting

type

Hardiness

Freezing

qualityDescription

Zone

4

Zone

3

Royalty Floricane Fair PoorVery

good

Vigorous plants are heavy producers.

Pick red for bright raspberry flavor, or

purple for sweet, rich flavor.

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MN cultivar recommendations

Black raspberry cultivars recommended for northern gardens.

CultivarFruiting

type

Hardiness

Freezing

qualityDescription

Zone 4 Zone 3

Black

HawkFloricane Fair Poor Good

Vigorous plants produce lots of rich, sweet,

firm black raspberries. Disease resistant and

heat tolerant.

Bristol Floricane Fair Poor Good

Vigorous, upright canes produce large

clusters of firm black raspberries. Excellent

flavor.

Hannah Burrack