Holly's Homestead — Berry
Raspberry
Rubus idaeus · Rose family
DIFFICULTY Easy–moderate
TYPE Perennial cane, from canes/suckers
MATURITY 1 year to first crop
TYPE Perennial cane, from canes/suckers
MATURITY 1 year to first crop
Sun
Full–part sun
Water
Regular, even
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
Spacing
45–60cm on wires
Depth
as per cane
01Trained on wires
Raspberries throw up new canes each year from spreading roots — training them onto horizontal wires keeps the patch tidy and makes picking far easier.
02Planting
Method
Plant bare-root canes against a wire support system.
Soil
Rich, well-drained, high organic matter.
Timing
Plant in winter while dormant.
03Growing care
- Train new canes onto wires as they grow.
- Water regularly, especially through fruit development.
- Prune out spent canes after fruiting (for summer-fruiting types) or cut back hard in winter (for autumn-fruiting types).
- Mulch to retain moisture and suppress competing suckers.
04Problems
- Cane spot — purple spotting on canes; remove and destroy affected canes.
- Birds — net as fruit ripens.
- Root rot — from poor drainage; ensure it's not sitting wet.
- Suckering beyond bounds — contain the bed or remove unwanted suckers.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Full colour, comes away from the core easily.
Method
Pick gently, leaving the white core on the plant.
Curing
None needed.
Storage
Fridge a couple of days; freezes very well.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
GarlicTansyAvoid nearby
Blackberry (shared disease risk)PotatoRotation note
Not applicable — long-lived perennial cane bed.