Plant raspberry canes while they're dormant, from autumn into spring

Plant raspberry canes while they’re dormant. Bare-root canes go in from mid-October to mid-December, or from late February to early April. Autumn planting gives the roots a few months to settle before spring.

Pot-grown raspberries can be planted at any time of year, as long as you keep them watered in summer.

Summer or autumn raspberries

Type	Fruits	Examples	Pruning
Summer-fruiting	June and July, on last year’s canes	Glen Ample, Malling Jewel	Cut out fruited canes after picking
Autumn-fruiting	August to the first frosts, on this year’s canes	Autumn Bliss, Joan J	Cut all canes to the ground in late winter

Autumn types are easier for beginners: no wires to fuss with and very simple pruning. Many growers plant a few of each for fruit from June to October.

Choosing a spot

Raspberries want sun, shelter from strong wind and moist, well-drained soil that’s slightly acidic. They hate waterlogged ground, which rots the roots, and chalky soil, which yellows the leaves. On heavy or wet soil, plant on a raised bed or a low ridge.

Keep them away from potatoes and tomatoes, and from blackberries, which can share viruses.

Supports

Summer raspberries need support. Put in posts at each end of the row and run two or three horizontal wires between them, at about 60 cm, 1 m and 1.5 m. Autumn raspberries usually stand without help, though a wire or string either side of the row stops them flopping.

Planting

1. Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost, and clear perennial weeds.
2. Plant the canes 45 cm apart, in rows about 1.8 m apart.
3. Spread the roots out and plant so they’re about 5 cm below the surface. Planting too deep is a common reason canes fail.
4. Firm in and water.
5. Cut the canes down to about 25 cm above the soil. This feels harsh, but it makes the plant send up strong new canes.
6. Mulch with compost or bark, which keeps the shallow roots cool and moist.

The first year and after

Summer types won’t fruit in their first summer, as they need a year’s growth first. Autumn types usually give a small crop in their first autumn.

Water in dry spells, especially while the fruit is swelling, and feed in spring with a general fertiliser.

Pruning summer raspberries. After picking, cut the canes that fruited down to the ground, and tie in the strongest six to eight new canes per plant to the wires.

Pruning autumn raspberries. In February, cut all the canes down to the ground. New canes grow and fruit that same year.

Common problems

Raspberry beetle. Grubs in the ripe fruit. Pick regularly, and clear up fallen fruit.

Cane diseases. Purple patches on canes. Cut out affected canes and improve air flow.

Birds. They take ripe fruit. Net summer raspberries as they colour.

Rhubarb and asparagus are the other crops to plant now: see rhubarb crowns and asparagus crowns. Set your own frost dates on the raspberry page.