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North American natives of long-standing, raspberries are easy to grow in yard or garden if a few simple rules are followed:
All raspberries which we produce will endure temperatures of -25, with some hardy to -45. They prefer full sunlight but will grow pretty well in 50% shade. Choose a location where you have not grown potatoes, tomatoes or eggplant. These plants are host to verticillium wilt which may live for many years in your soil and affect brambles. Once a location is chosen combine compost, topsoil and existing soil into a 24" deep x 24" wide location and plant so that settled soil will leave the plant at the established soil level. Our large, container grown plants require no initial pruning and will fruit during the first season from existing canes produced during the previous growing season. After fruiting is completed prune the old cane off as low as possible and discard. These canes must be burned or disposed of since they may become disease hosts. Heritage and Kiwigold can be completely pruned in Spring causing it to fruit only once in Fall rather than to produce 2 crops as an "ever-bearer." It is good to lay a soaker hose or dripline along the plants before mulching to make watering through dry periods easier. It is best to water plants during dry periods and immediately after planting. Fertilizer needs are modest with a neutral formula such as 10-10-10 acceptable. Do not over-feed as this will lead to lots of vegetative growth but will decrease fruit. Pruning is the key to productivity. By removing old canes your plant will be constantly stimulated to produce newer, more productive wood which will produce your fruit. It is important to remove pruned material from your plants. Burn or discard since dead wood becomes host for pests. Varieties
BOYNE is a summer bearing, thornless variety, hardy and productive with medium size, red berries whose flavor is aromatic & sweet. Fruit is good for processing and freezing. Upright canes are 5' and do not bend with fruit. Requires no cross pollination. USDA plant zones 4-6. KILLARNEY is also a very cold tolerant early bearing variety which has beautiful foliage and distinctive leaf shape. Best bramble from a landscape point-of-view. Medium to large fruit is attractive light honey red in color with excellent flavor. Self-fertile and very productive. Requires no trellising. USDA Zones 4-6. KIWIGOLD is a sport of Heritage with similar ripening times and yields. The high quality fruit is a warm golden yellow that will develop a blush when overripe. Ever-bearing. Zones 4-8. LATHAM is an established standard late Spring bearer for the Northeast US. Plants are vigorous, productive and resistant to disease. Larger berries hold rich color and flavor when preserved. Fruit ripens over an extended period. Thornless spines make this a classic. USDA climate zones 4-7 . HERITAGE an ever-bearing, (small Spring crop, larger Fall crop) red variety continues bearing on new thornless canes through the Fall. Long, arching, upright, sturdy cane is ideal for small gardens. Self-fertile and root rot resistant, fruit is high-quality, firm and excellent in flavor making it the most widely planted variety. USDA plant zones 5-7. JEWEL a thorned variety is the leading black raspberry which produces excellent yields of superb quality berries. Berries are large, glossy black with good flavor. Resistant to many disease problems of other black raspberry varieties. Very hardy. USDA Zones 4-7 GOLDIE is the gold standard for Raspberries. High quality fruit turns deep yellow, then amber gold when ripe and red-orange when over-ripe. Ease of growth and fine-quality fruit make this a must for the home grower. Zones 5-7. Ever-Bearer. ROYALTY is the most popular purple variety for so many reasons: it's highly productive, has large sweet fruit which turns slowly from red to purple, is very easy to grow, late season. Fruit turns from dark red to purple when ripe. USDA 4-7. Our website is printable. |
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