How to Grow Raspberries

Raspberry is a delicious fruit that is believed to have originated in the eastern parts of Asia. Though earlier relatively unknown, it slowly started gaining popularity by the late 17^th century. As time passed, it started being used in the production of wine, vinegar, sweets and jams, apart from being eaten in the raw form. Even within raspberries, there are different varieties, like black raspberry, blue raspberry and European red raspberry, each with its own distinct taste. Though raspberries are easily available in the market, many people like to plant them at home itself. If you also belong to this category and are interested in growing the fruit in your garden, the tips provided below can come handy.

How to Grow Raspberries

Items Needed

Raspberry Canes
Compost/ Leaves/ Pine Needles
Short Wooden Poles
Wire/ Heavy Twine
Wire Cages/ Bird Netting

Instructions

There are two types of raspberries, summer bearing raspberries and ever bearing raspberries. The former, as the name suggests, produces berries during early summer, while the latter gives fruit in spring and fall.
First of all, you need to decide on the type of raspberries that you want to grow - summer bearing or ever bearing.
Raspberry plants are sold as canes, woody stems of the plant, in nurseries, greenhouses and home and garden stores. Go to the one nearest to your place and buy raspberry plants.
Next, you need to find the spot where the raspberries can be planted. The place should receive full sunlight and have arrangements for proper drainage of water.
You also need to prepare soil for growing raspberries, which should be acidic. You can add compost, mulched leaves or pine needles to the soil to make the soil more acidic.
Late spring is the best time to plant raspberries. By this time, the hard frost is almost completely over.
Take the raspberry canes and in case they have started to grow larger, cut them back to 6 inches.
Dig holes at the spot where you intend to plant the barriers. Make sure that the hole is enough to set the crown, the spot just above the roots, halfway into the ground.
Now, cover the raspberry plant and secure the soil around it.
Since raspberries tend to grow unruly, you will have to build a support trellis for the plants. It can be a tomato cage or wooden poles, with strong wire woven between them. Make sure that it is strong enough to hold the plant, once it starts growing.
Since birds, cows, etc tend to pick on raspberries, make sure to protect the plants. For the purpose, you can use wire cages or bird netting and plant them close to your house.
After your raspberry plants have grown fully, make sure to prune old growth every year. When old canes turn a grayish color, it means that they have died and will not produce any more fruit. Pruning them will aid new growth. At the same time, make sure to take out the injured, broken and diseased canes too.

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