Raspberry Planting Guide | Soil, Sun, pH, Fertilizing, Growing & Caring

Raspberries are fruiting brambles, not trees. They are part of the plant genus Rubus and come in a variety of colors like black, white, red, purple, and yellow. Raspberries can bear fruit for up to 20 years since they have a perennial root system and crown, but the canes themselves are biennial, meaning they live for two years. Each cane bears fruit on the second year.

First year canes are called primocanes. Second year canes are called floricanes because the canes set flower.

Most raspberries are self-pollinating, meaning they don't need another variety to bear fruit. However, cross-pollination with another variety can increase fruit yields.

The best time to plant raspberries is the early spring when the soil is workable, and the ground has thawed. If your canes are dormant, you can plant before your last frost in late winter since the plant won't be affected.

Raspberry plants should ideally be planted in a row that is 12 to 18 inches wide, no wider than two and a half feet. Plants within the rows should be spaced two to eight feet apart, depending on the variety. Raspberries need well-draining soil and like rich soil, so regardless of drainage needs, compost makes a great amendment to increase fertility.

To protect newly planted raspberries from frost damage, avoid exposing the plant's roots to air for extended periods in freezing temperatures, and get them into the ground as quickly as possible. For fall-planted raspberries, they should be slowly acclimated to colder weather so that they go back into dormancy after you plant them.

After planting raspberries, it's important to water them well to settle the soil and collapse any air pockets. Also, it's a good idea to mulch the plants to retain moisture, keep down weeds, and prevent frost damage, but not too thickly as it may inhibit the raspberry suckers from sprouting in your bed. However, if you have drainage or rodent issues, you may want to skip the mulch.