Raspberries have to be one of the most popular fruits grown in the UK. They are sweet, juicy, can be used in so many desserts, smoothies, and preserves and, best of all, they are ideally suited to the UK climate. This makes them suitable for gardeners of any experience and most of us will enjoy great results if we plant raspberry canes in our garden.

But, to help ensure a bumper crop we’ve put together our top tips on how to grow raspberries. Let’s start at the beginning.

1 Choosing the right type of raspberry

There are three common varieties of raspberry; red, black and yellow though you can sometimes find gold raspberries in the Direct Plants nursery.

You’ll usually find that the red variety is the strongest and produces a much more impressive crop. These are ideal for planting in the UK as they are native to Europe.

You’ll also need to think about the fruit bearing ability of the plants you choose. Summer bearing raspberries develop their fruit from the previous year’s growth and are ready to harvest around July though autumn fruiting plants can produce heavy crops of large fruit just in time for winter.

On the other hand, ever bearing raspberries produce a crop in autumn and again the following summer on a new cane.

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2 Plant the berries in a raised bed

If you attempt to plant raspberries anywhere that the bottom of the plant will become wet, you will have very little success in growing them. However, these plants are also very heavy feeders so you need to ensure a good balance.

The best way to do this is by planting the raspberries in a raised bed, which sits at least 20 inches off the ground. This bed should be filled with one fifth of well-rotted manure, sand and peat. On top of this, you will need to fill the rest of the bed with a high-quality topsoil.

3 Can I plant raspberries in a container?

Many people opt to plant their raspberries in a raised ground bed; however, just like strawberries it is also possible to grow them in a pot or container. You’ll need one that is at least 38cm wide and this should be filled with 80% multi-purpose compost.

As well as this, you should add 20% loam-based compost as this will provide greater stability. You’ll then need to plant a single plant in the centre of the container and secure this with canes at either side.

4 Planting at the right time

When you plant your raspberries, you can expect your first crop one year down the line. Planting them in the early spring is the best option as there will not be any risk of frost damaging the plants. However, if you live in a very mild climate, then you may be able to plant the raspberries during the late autumn.

Once planted, your raspberries will enjoy a sunny spot. That said, these hardy plants don’t mind partial shade, if this is your only option. Of course, the more sun they get, the more they will bear so try to give them at least six hours of sun each day.

5 Plant placement

If you’re an avid foodie, then the chances are that you will be keen to grow as many of your own fruits and vegetables as possible. But do take care where you plant each variety.

Where raspberries are concerned, you should avoid planting them near tomatoes or potatoes. This is because these two plants are prone to a fungus that can also easily infect raspberries. If they are planted further apart, there is a much lower risk of disease spreading.

6 Fertilising your raspberries

As with all plants, a good dose of fertiliser is a great way to give your raspberries the nutrients they need to flourish. You’ll only need to add fertiliser twice a year during the first year and the best option is a 10-10-10 product, using around 3lbs per 100ft.

For subsequent years, you’ll only need to fertilise annually and while you can use a premade product, it’s also perfectly viable to make your own organic fertiliser, should you prefer. You might also wish to dig in some aged manure once a year for even more of a boost.

7 Watering your raspberries

As we have already discussed, raspberries do not like to sit in water and this can seriously hinder their ability to thrive. But that does not mean to say that you don’t need to pay special attention to watering the plants.

You will need to water your raspberry plants at least once a week, wetting the soil down to about one inch. This is far preferable to less frequent yet more intense watering and this process should be upheld until after you harvest. Also note that you may need to water more often in very dry summer weather.

8 Don’t forget to prune!

Once you have picked your raspberries, it’s time to prune the plant and this should be done every year. The canes will only survive for two years so it’s important to get rid of any older ones. These can be identified as they will no longer have a green colour.

Some people will cut all the canes down to around an inch but this will reduce, or even remove your summer crop.

If you’re growing ever-bearing raspberries, you can hold off pruning until late winter or even early spring and this will result in a much larger late crop.

9 Protecting your raspberry plants

Fortunately, raspberry plants aren’t overly susceptible to diseases or pests so you won’t have your work cut out when it comes to protecting them. That said, there may be some problems that you should be aware of; the earlier you spot them, the easier they are to cure.

During the summer, spider mites can be problematic as well as Japanese beetles which are common in some parts of the UK. If you live near woodlands, wild rabbits may interfere with the plants, especially during the winter. To prevent this, it is a good idea to surround them with chicken wire.

10 The right time to harvest

When you come to pick your raspberries, it’s always best to do it in the morning. However, if the raspberries are still covered in dew, then there may be a chance of mould so you should wait for them to dry.

The berries will be fully ripe around early summer and you’ll find that, over the course of around two weeks, you’ll need to pick them every couple of days. But make sure that the berries are fully ripe since once they are picked, they will not continue to ripen. The best way to determine the ripeness of a berry is to taste test it.

A quick search on the internet or a glance through any baking recipe book will reveal dozens and dozens of desserts, jams and even breads you can make with your crop of raspberries. Why not plant some in your garden or polytunnel this year?

Here at Direct Plants, we know how popular raspberries are and they are such great value for money too. You can see all the raspberry bushes we have in stock right now by clicking here.