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Growing soft fruit.

Introduction
Raspberries (rubus idaeus) are a dilemma - certainly delicious, but much easier to grow if you have fair bit of space such as a garden or allotment. At first sight, they are also rather confusing as there are both summer and autumn fruiting varieties, which need to be pruned and supported in different ways. On the plus side, they will tolerate cooler summers and the canes can last for a decade or so. Also, you can grow the less usual yellow raspberries as well.

In essence, summer fruiting varieties grow on stems from the previous year and require a structure to support the canes. Autumn fruiting varieties grow on this year's growth, with a smaller crop. This difference dictates how you prune them each year. I.e. You cut out last year's growth on summer raspberries, leaving this year's. With autumn fruiting you cut it all right back.

Planting

Summer Fruiting

Autumn Fruiting

You can buy either bare root or container raspberry plants. Bare roots plants will need to be planted in winter - ideally at the beginning or end of winter.  First dig a trench and fill with plenty of manure or compost. Once you have planted the stems, cut back to a to a point above a bud, about 23cm tall.

Spacing
About 45cm between canes. Rows should be around 1.8m apart.

Growing notes
Raspberries will often fruit after the frosts - a bonus.

If you have a heavy clay soil, go for autumn raspberries over summer.

They don't like waterlogged soil - used raised beds if necessary.

Propagation is via suckers - lifting then replanting.

Containers
Raspberries are not well-suited to containers.

Pruning
The plants will send out suckers - new shoots that form a little distance from the plant. Remove these, as you want a single, powerful clump. Aith summer fruiting varieties, you want to cut away all the canes that have fruited to ground level, leaving this year's growth. With autumn fruiting, cut down all the canes to ground level in winter.

Harvesting
Pull the fruits away, leaving the white plug. They freeze well, in a single layer.

Pests and disease
Viruses and birds. Raspberry beetle Grey mould.

Varieties
Glen Ample (summer) , Glen Prosen (spine free canes), Autumn Bliss, Tulameen,

Did You Know?
In Britain, many of our raspberries are grown in Scotland. Using modern varieties and polytunnels, the season now stretches from May until the end of October.

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