Raspberry Care

Types of Raspberries We Sell

Summer-bearing (1 crop per season)​
Ever-bearing (2 crops per season)
​Nova, Killarney Raspberry, and Fall Gold Raspberry plants can be Summer-bearing or Ever-bearing based on how you care for the specific plant.  Read below to find out how to care for each type of raspberry plant.

​General Care

​Planting and Support

Raspberries require full sun, well-drained soil, and good air circulation.  They also do best with a soil pH of approximately 5.5 to 6.5.

Raspberry plants should not be planted where eggplants, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes have been grown within the past 3 years.

Add well-rotted manure or compost to improve the organic matter content of the soil where you will do your planting.

Plan for 2-3 feet between plants.  As plants mature they will fill in this open area.

Fertilize

Fertilize raspberries in the spring and then again in late July or August but not while picking.

Watering

Water 1 ½ to 2 inches a week just as the berries start ripening.

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Pruning

​Summer Bearing Raspberry
In late winter cut all canes down to the ground.  The new growth that comes up in the spring will have berries on it in late summer or early fall.

Ever Bearing Raspberry
Remove the spent floricanes (growth from last year)of summer-bearing varieties by cutting them off at the ground after they bear fruit. You will know which ones are spent because they have a grey almost dead look to them.  Living canes usually have a light brown color to them.  Dispose of the canes you prune-- they often harbor insects and disease.

During late winter or early winter do more pruning, thin the resulting collection of canes so that you leave five to six of the strongest canes per linear foot. The hedgerow should have at least 6 inches between canes at the ground level.

This type of pruning provides berries in late spring and then again in late summer or early fall.