If you want to grow soft fruit then I recommend raspberries for value, reliability and ease of growth. The canes, best bought bare root, are available now, so here are my top tips for planting and growing great raspberries.
Raspberries like moisture, without being soggy around the roots. Improve light and sandy soil by digging in plenty of bulky organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Summer-fruiting raspberries crop in midsummer; while autumn fruiters crop from the end of summer, often until the first frosts, so if possible plant a few of each. There are different varieties of summer and autumn-fruiting raspberries, and the ‘Fallgold’ variety even has yellow fruits.
If your soil is heavy and wet, and if it is alkaline or chalky, summer raspberries may struggle, so grow autumn fruiters as they can withstand the adverse conditions.
First, choose a sunny, sheltered spot and weed thoroughly so the raspberry canes are not competing with weeds for moisture and nutrients. It your garden is very hot and sunny in the summer then light shade for the raspberries from a nearby tree is recommended; otherwise, they like sunshine.
Summer-fruiting raspberries need a support system —sturdy posts at a spacing of about 1.8m (6ft) and galvanized wires at a spacing of about 30cm (12in) will do the trick. Autumn-fruiting raspberries should be fine without support but you can tie them in if you wish.
The canes are available now and in their ‘dormant’ state (looking like a bundle of sticks) respond well to planting now. Space the canes 40-45cm (15-17in) apart and allow about 2m (6ft 6in) between rows.
Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure and plant each cane at a depth of 5-8cm (2-3in), spreading the roots out well so they establish better. Firm the canes in then out each one back to about 25cm (10in) above ground level and water in well if the soil is dry.
Summer-fruiting raspberries fruit on the previous year’s growth, so planting now will be much better in 2020 onwards than this year. Autumn fruiters produce their crop on the same year’s growth, so expect a decent crop this autumn and heavier ones from 2020.
Mulch raspberries each spring with well-rotted manure. Once finished cropping, cut the fruit-bearing canes of summer-fruiting varieties back to ground level, and tie the newly formed canes to the wires ready for next year. With autumn-fruiting raspberries, cut back the old canes at the end of winter and the new canes will appear in spring.
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