{"id":2498,"date":"2019-06-12T07:36:30","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T07:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2498"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:41:43","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:41:43","slug":"14-key-elements-when-growing-raspberry-in-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-key-elements-when-growing-raspberry-in-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Key Elements When Growing Raspberry in Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Raspberries can be found in gardens all over the world, and there are a thousand different reasons why they can make the perfect next addition to your garden. They\u2019re one of the berries highest in natural anti-oxidants, and they\u2019re overall great for your health whether you\u2019re adding them to an ice cream recipe or baking berry-containing cupcakes instead.
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They grow happily under the right circumstances, and they\u2019re one of the most popular berries to grow second only to strawberries. A lot of new gardeners are surprised to find out that raspberries aren\u2019t nearly as hard to grow as they might have imagined \u2013 as long as you have the essential key elements for your raspberry plant calculated right, you can look forward to happy and healthy raspberry plants for years or even decades more to come.
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Here are 8 key elements for gardeners who want to grow raspberries in their garden.
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1. The Right Soil<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing a gardener should think about when planning to plant anything new in their garden is the type of soil that the plant is going to need; the same conditions often don\u2019t count for the same type of plant, which is why it\u2019s often the easiest to mark off certain areas of the garden and prepare the soil for that specific section.
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Raspberries aren\u2019t fussy when it comes to the type of soil they want to grow in; ideally, soil should be loosely packed together and should be free of any rocks, weeds or clumps. From there, it can never hurt to water the soil before any plants, seeds or cuttings go into it
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Prepare the soil by adding at least one layer of compost, and if you live in a colder area, use mulch packed around the base of the plant (but never the roots) to insulate the plant slightly from the cold.
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2. Perfect Composting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who considers themselves even remotely serious about gardening should consider having their own self-sustaining compost heap on the other side of the garden. First, it\u2019s one of the best things that you can do for the environment as a whole \u2013 and more than this, it can also have a long list of benefits for your garden.
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All-natural compost can give plants the boost they need, and it goes a long way to enriching the soil for perfect plant growth. All of the cuttings that come out of the garden (as well as any other organic materials like banana peels) can be worked into the compost heap and become something useful instead of just taking up space.
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For raspberry plants, work in compost for the initial planting phase \u2013 and then at least twice per year while continuously checking the pH of the soil to make sure it falls between 6 and 7, considered neutral.
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3. Watering Correctly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Correct watering is one of the most vital parts of promoting plant growth, and plants get the majority of nutrients that they take in from either the water or the soil. Raspberry plants tend to like a lot of water, comparatively more than some other smaller berry bushes, but it\u2019s also true at the same time that they shouldn\u2019t be given too much water (especially not where soil doesn\u2019t drain properly).
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Both over- and underwatering of raspberry plants can result in a disastrous harvest or an ill plant. \u201cWet roots\u201d are a condition affecting most plants that\u2019s best avoided.
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For the best possible results when watering, make sure that the soil is well-draining \u2013 sometimes mixing in sand can help \u2013 and make sure that the soil isn\u2019t packed too tightly around the plant, especially during the initial planning phase.
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If you\u2019ve added too much water to your plants or you\u2019ve had heavy rain, support the plant and sprinkle dry, absorbent soil over this.
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4. Spotting Plant Issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Raspberries are one of the easiest plants to cultivate, even though it\u2019s true that the majority of gardeners imagine that raspberries are complicated plants. They really aren\u2019t,  and there aren\u2019t a huge variety of diseases or pests that will affect your raspberry plants during their life cycle \u2013 and those that do are usually easy to deal with.
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If you notice that growth isn\u2019t what it should be, it\u2019s usually an adjustment to either the soil or the nutrient levels; this is a good time to test the pH of the soil, and to add nutrients to the plant in order to boost new growth.
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If you notice that the leaves are changing color, start by checking pH levels. If not, too little magnesium in the soil can also cause this, as can exposure to early morning cold.
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Experienced gardeners learn how to \u201clisten\u201d to their plants; look at how plants are reacting to the circumstances and adjust the circumstances as needed when you need your plants to do something else. Simple when put like that, don\u2019t you think?
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5. When to Plant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Raspberry plants are best put in the ground during spring or fall just before the change of the season where they have an opportunity to thrive with the rest of the garden \u2013 and this ensures that you\u2019ll be able to harvest raspberries in time. There\u2019s no difference in the planting time whether you\u2019re planting from cuttings or seeds.
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Ideally, they should be planted in such a way that the roots are given enough space to grow, although also in such a way that the roots are insulated from the cold.
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If there\u2019s one thing disastrous to berry plants, it\u2019s early morning cold \u2013 and if you live in an area that gets frost through some parts of the year, insulation is key. Never plant in winter, and use an appropriate tarp to cover your plants against the morning cold when frost starts to peek out.
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Where raspberry plants get too much sun, a tarp (or shadow netting) can also help to protect your plants.
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6. Myths About Raspberries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common myths surrounding the raspberry plant has already been mentioned in several places throughout the article, and that\u2019s the common idea that raspberry plants are either hard to grow or won\u2019t take in certain climates. Both are very far from the truth, and blackberries can thrive in most climates all over the world as long as the conditions are right \u2013 and kept that way for as long as possible.
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It\u2019s another common myth that you can\u2019t plant raspberries in a pot. This isn\u2019t true, and there are many good reasons why gardeners might prefer them in pots instead. For some climates, pots are just easier to move from one part of the garden to the other \u2013 and for some gardeners, it\u2019s easier to get initial growth started in a pot first before transplanting to the ground.
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When choosing to plant in pots, ensure that there\u2019s enough drainage and remember to check soil conditions just as you would planting in the ground.
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7. Surrounding Plants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gardeners setting out the planning of their gardens for the first time often miss out on the benefits their garden can get from planting the right plants in close proximity to others. When you\u2019re putting together a garden, it\u2019s far more than just an arrangement of plants that grow next to one another \u2013 the successful and happy garden contains plants that work together.
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This is part of the magic of gardening, and making sure you have the right surrounding plants around your blackberries can go a far way towards a happier, healthier overall garden.
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Berry plants often go well together because of the fact that they prefer more or less the same conditions and soil for them in order to thrive, but gardeners should also remember that they don\u2019t want to plant varying plants too close to one another \u2013 yes, it\u2019s pretty easy for berry plants to become entangled, leaving you with a mess to trim.
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8. Arrangement and Planning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Putting together a successful garden with happy raspberry plants includes making sure that essential key factors like the water, nutrient levels and soil are right for the plant \u2013 but that\u2019s not the only thing to consider when you first put your garden together.
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Arrangement and planning are two of the most important things for novice gardeners to consider, and it can save you a lot of time in the long run if you decide what to plant where far before you do it.
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Grab a pen and piece of paper to outline sections of the garden and what would grow best; mark which areas of the garden are getting access to the most sunlight, and write down which type of soil is predominantly available in that section. Also, spare a thought for how the wind travels through the garden and plants.
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Often planning ahead is what makes the difference between a good garden and a great one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Pruning Tips
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Raspberry plant requires pruning to ensure they keep producing optimal yields. If you don’t prune your plants, then you can expect a slowdown in production as the plant assumes it’s reaching the end of its lifecycle. After the raspberry, plant starts to flower, and you are harvesting your berries every day, take a moment to analyze the canes of the plant.
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Prune all of the canes that turn brown, and leave all of the green-colored ones to bear more fruit. The green ones continue to produce berries, while the brown ones are dead, and require removal from the plant. It’s vital to finish your pruning before the start of the next season, as this strategy will help the plant yield more berries the following year.
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If you live in a cold climate, avoid winter injury to your raspberry bush by delaying the thinning of the primocanes until the start of the growing season. Before the beginning of the spring season growth, cut canes to around 12-inches above the trellis or support. Make sure you don’t cut more than a quarter off, as it will affect the yield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Raspberry Pests and Diseases
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Raspberries are a novice gardeners dream, as these plants experience very little in the way of disease and pests. However, this does not mean that they cannot contract an infection if the conditions are strenuous on the plant.
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Overwatering raspberry plants results in waterlogging of the roots, which may lead to root rot. Mold is another issue that occurs from overwatering as well. For best results, water your raspberry bush once every two or three days, and give the soil time to dry out a bit between waterings.
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This strategy helps to prevent powdery mildew and other forms of mold from developing on the tops of the leaves. Powdery mildew infection looks like someone attacked your raspberries with a bottle of talcum powder.
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Other pests of concern for raspberry growers include Japanese beetles, spider mites, and cane borers. It’s a good idea to surround your garden with a chicken-wire fence to prevent rabbits from getting into your garden and eating the canes during the wintertime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Growing Raspberries in a Greenhouse
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Those growers living in cold climates, such as the Northern States, may have a hard time growing raspberries. Raspberries prefer milder weather conditions, but nothing is stopping you from planting your raspberries in a greenhouse.
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Greenhouses create manageable environments that are easier for the grower to control. Cold climates can kill your plant, but it’s possible to regulate the temperature inside your greenhouse using heaters. Pest control and disease management are also a snap, and installing a sulfur burner in your greenhouse ensures that you never have to worry about dealing with powdery mildew or other forms of fungal disease.
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Plants also grow a lot faster in greenhouses, and you can look forward to faster fruiting and higher yields. Greenhouse raspberry growers can also benefit from the use of lighting systems, to increase the sunlight hours to their crop. We like growing all of our produce in greenhouses, due to the substantial increase in yield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Use a Trellis
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Raspberries bushes grow tall, and they require support to ensure that they don’t fall over. When raspberry bushes touch the ground, the foliage dies off, and the canes start to experience the onset of disease. Prevent your plant from falling over by using a straight trellis on a wall to support your raspberries. Raspberries like the morning sun, so make sure your place your trellis on an east-facing wall.
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If you decide to grow your raspberries in a greenhouse, then build a trellis fence on one side of the flowerbed. Drive 8-ft stakes into the ground, at least 2-feet deep. Attach the trellis to the poles, and your raspberry bush is ready for training.
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As the raspberry plant grows, weave the canes into the trellis to support its growth. This strategy places less stress on the plant, resulting in larger and sweeter raspberries during harvest season. Always build your trellis before the plant gets over 2-feet tall, as it may be challenging to support the canes when they get too large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Raspberry Varieties
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When it comes to selecting your raspberries to grow in your garden or greenhouse, it may surprise you to learn about how many different varieties are available. Here’s a brief breakdown of the types of raspberries available, and the critical characteristics of each type.
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Canby \u2013 Featuring red berries that fruit during the peak of summer, with nearly thornless canes. This raspberry is best suited for growing in the Northern States due to the fast fruiting of the plant.
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Heritage \u2013 Producing red berries, this ever-bearing species is ideal for Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
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Plainsman \u2013 Producing red berries, this type of raspberry plant likes high altitudes, making it suitable for areas like Colorado.
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Fallgold \u2013 Producing yellow berries., this type of raspberry suits colder climates in Canada and the Upper Midwest.
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Double Gold \u2013 Produces yellow berries, but this type is suited for warmer climates.
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Royalty – Producing purple berries, this type of raspberry is suited for warmer climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Storage Tips
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After picking your ripe raspberry’s, you can leave them in the fridge for 5-days before they start to turn mushy. It’s critical that you don’t wash or rinse the berries after picking unless you intend to use them on the same day. Cleaning the raspberries causes them to waterlog, and turns them mushy, ruining the texture of the berry.
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Keeping your fresh berries in dry storage is the best option to ensure they remain fresh and sweet. It’s also an easy process to freeze raspberries. We recommend you place your raspberries in a single layer on a tray, and then send them to the freezer. After freezing, you can add all of the berries to a resealable bag, and store them in the freezer for up to a year.
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If you intend on making jams and other preserves with your raspberries, then use fresh berries picked on the day for the best results.
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