How to grow Raspberries in the UK
Choose 'autumn fruiting' canes - they're the easiest to look after.
- DifficultyA bit more care
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Grows to180cm
- Time to first pickabout 26 weeks
- Typeperennial
When to sow, plant and harvest raspberries
| Plant | early November to mid March |
|---|---|
| Pick | early August to mid October |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Dig a trench or hole big enough to spread the roots out
- Plant each cane at the same depth as the soil mark on its stem - not deeper
- Space the canes 45cm apart in the row, with rows 100cm apart
- Firm in well, water, and cut each cane down to about 25cm above the soil
Top tips for growing raspberries
- 'Autumn Bliss' is a great easy variety.
Looking after raspberries
- Week 16: In February, cut all the canes down to the ground. New ones grow and fruit the same year
Soil and feeding
Rich soil with a thick mulch on top. Dig in compost or well-rotted manure before planting, then spread a thick layer on top every spring.
Pests and problems
- Blackbirds & sparrows: peck seedlings, pull out onion sets and steal ripe fruit
- Net the canes when the berries start to colour
Harvesting and eating raspberries
Pick when they're deep red and slide off easily.
How to eat them: By the handful, or on porridge.
Storing raspberries
Keeps 1-2 days.
- Keep in the fridge, don't wash until eating
Freeze on a tray, then bag. Keeps 12 months - lovely on porridge.
Good varieties of raspberries
- Glen Ample: Big, tasty berries in July.
- Autumn Bliss: Fruits Aug-Oct, and pruning is easy - cut it all down in winter.
- All Gold: Golden-yellow raspberries.
Companion planting
Grows well with
- Poached egg plant: brings bees and hoverflies
- Lavender: bees for more berries
Saving your own raspberries seed
Autumn or early spring.
- Dig up a big clump
- Pull or cut it into two or three pieces, each with roots and shoots
- Replant them - more plants for free, and the old one grows better too
Where to buy raspberries plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Raspberries questions
When do I plant out raspberries?
Plant raspberries out from early November to mid March.
When can I pick raspberries?
Raspberries is ready from early August to mid October. Pick when they're deep red and slide off easily.
How long do raspberries take to grow?
Roughly 26 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are raspberries easy to grow?
Raspberries are rated 'a bit more care' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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