Growing raspberries in the home garden

What are primocanes and floricanes?

Primocane and floricane describe the stage of growth a raspberry cane or branch is in. Most raspberry varieties produce fruit only on floricanes, but some varieties have been grown to also produce fruit at the primocane stage. 

Primocanes are the green, fleshy stalks that grow each year. During the first year of growth, the new primocane develops brown bark, then goes through a dormant or rest period in winter and becomes a floricane during the second growing season.

Harvest fruit from primocane-bearing varieties in mid to late summer. 

Floricanes are woody and brown; they are the second-year growth. The floricane produces fruit in early to mid summer and then dies.

Care through the seasons

For summer-bearing (floricane) red, yellow, black, and purple raspberries:

• March— For red and yellow raspberries, cut canes back to 4-5 feet tall before growth begins

• March— For black and purple raspberries, cut side branches back to 12-18 inches; prune all but 4 to 5 canes per hill to the ground
• April, May— Plant bare-root transplants as soon as the soil can be worked
• May, June— Plant potted transplants after threat of frost has passed
• June through August— Keep an eye out for spider mites and Japanese beetles
• July, August— Pinch black and purple raspberry cane tips
• July, August— Harvest
• August— Cut fruit-producing canes to the ground after harvest
• November— Apply mulch for winter protection
• November— Set up fence around plants if rabbit damage is expected during winter

For fall-bearing (primocane) red and yellow raspberries:

• March—For fall-only primocane raspberries, cut all canes to the ground before growth begins
• April, May—Plant bare-root transplants as soon as the soil can be worked
• May, June—Plant potted transplants after threat of frost has passed
• June through August—Keep an eye out for spider mites and Japanese beetles
• August, September—Harvest

Raspberries begin to bloom in late May or early June. Bumblebees, honeybees, and other wild bees are excellent pollinators of brambles. The more bees working your plants, the more fruit you will harvest.

How different raspberry varieties grow

Red and yellow raspberries produce many new canes from the base of the floricanes and from buds produced on the roots that become underground stems or stolons. The plants can spread in any direction. Thus "raspberry patch" is an apt name if the canes are not controlled through pruning.

Black and most purple raspberries produce primocanes only from the buds at the base of the floricanes. These clumps or “hills” stay where you originally plant them.

Everbearing red raspberries, also called "fall-bearing" or "primocane-fruiting" raspberries, are able to grow flowers during the first year. These varieties produce fruit at the tips of the primocanes. During the second year, they can produce a summer crop on the lower part of the same canes.

One problem with this type of raspberry in Minnesota is that in areas with a short growing season, many berries may be lost to early autumn freezes. Pruning of fall-bearers may be adjusted to allow for both a fall and following summer crop, or to take just the fall crop.

Varieties

The University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station has been testing varieties for many years to find those best suited to our climate. This list is based on that research. Most of the varieties on the list are hardy throughout Minnesota; those with hardiness described as "fair" or "poor" will perform best in protected sites and in the southern part of the state.

There are many more varieties available, with more being released every year, that may be hardy to some areas in Minnesota. If winter injury is a concern in your garden, primocane-fruiting varieties may be the best choice.

• Grow raspberries in a part of the garden that has good air circulation, good drainage and full sunlight.
• Good air movement helps leaves dry faster, which reduces disease problems. Standing water will increase the likelihood of disease problems and death of the plants due to a lack of oxygen to the roots.
• Any well-drained soil is good for growing raspberries. Irrigation will be needed on a sandy soil, and even on more moisture-retentive soils during dry spells.
• Raspberry canes are sensitive to drying out, so avoid planting in a very windy spot.
• Raspberries begin to bloom in late May or early June. Bumblebees, honeybees, and other wild bees are excellent pollinators of brambles. The more bees working your planting, the more fruit you will harvest.

Planting raspberries in a row along a fence or wall makes them easy to manage and, best of all, easy to pick. Or you can grow your raspberries in more of a rounded patch. Either way, space red or yellow raspberry plants every 2 to 3 feet.

Whether you're planting bare-root or potted plants, the key is to keep the crown of the plant 1 or 2 inches above the ground.

Dig a hole based on the size of the root mass

• When you place the plant in the hole spread out the roots.
• Try not to wrap the roots around in the hole.
• If any roots are particularly long or unruly, they can be trimmed off.
• If planting a potted plant, make sure to loosen the root ball and cut any tightly wound roots. This will help the roots spread better once planted in the ground.

Allow new primocanes of red and yellow raspberries to spread along the row or in between plants but not wider than 12 inches. Wider than that and the plants will be difficult to manage and harvest, and more prone to fungal diseases because of slow drying conditions.

Set black and purple raspberries 4 feet apart 

Because these types do not produce root suckers, they will create what is commonly called a hill. The "hill" does not mean mounding the soil; it refers to the cluster of canes that develops from a single plant.

Although black and purple raspberries do not send up new primocanes outside the hill, they can spread. The long, vigorous canes often arch down to the soil surface, where they may take root. It's important to keep the canes controlled and supported to prevent this.

Watering

Raspberries need lots of water from spring until after harvest. Because the root system is in the top two feet of soil, watering regularly is better than an occasional deep soaking.

Raspberries need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week from flowering until harvest. Use a rain gauge or check reported rainfall, and irrigate accordingly.

Support

All types of raspberries require support to prevent the canes from wind damage, bending over, cracking, and getting out of control.

A trellis can be as simple as a couple of posts and twine for a row of plants, or a decorative obelisk, teepee or arbor for individual or mass plantings.

Supporting the plants will not only keep them healthier and more productive, it will also keep them looking nice.

Plant sturdy ornamentals like yarrow, echinacea or rudbeckia or perhaps herbs or other edibles like kale alongside your raspberries to create a beautiful mixed garden. These will help support the raspberries and invite beneficial insects into the garden.

Fertilizer and mulch

Raspberry plants are heavy feeders and generally need to be fertilized. Composted manure is a good source of nutrients and can be incorporated prior to planting at a rate of 31/2 cubic feet per 100 sq. feet, to improve soil structure and provide nutrients.

On established plantings, apply the same rate for continued plant nutrition.

Raspberries enjoy a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch. Good mulches for use in the home garden include leaves, lawn clippings, and wood chips or shavings because they are usually free of weed seeds.

Weeding

Keep the area around the base of raspberry plants free of weeds to prevent them having to compete for water and nutrients. Keeping the area weeded will also reduce the potential for insect and disease problems.

Remove weeds early and often. A layer of mulch will help control weeds.

Red and yellow raspberry plants send up shoots or suckers in places you would least expect. If you discover suckers outside the area intended for your raspberry plants, cut them to the ground.

Remember, those suckers are attached to spreading roots, so it's a good idea to use a shovel to sever the roots. This will likely be a regular task for the raspberry grower.

Raspberries grow vigorously and need annual pruning. This keeps the plants looking good, increases productivity and reduces the chance of diseases.

Summer-bearing red and yellow raspberries

After the last harvest, cut all canes that have produced fruit to ground level and remove them. This eliminates a disease source and gives primocanes more room to grow.

• Thin primocanes to 4 to 5 sturdy canes per foot of row.
• In areas where winter injury is common, you may delay thinning the primocanes until the following spring, when you will be able to tell which canes have survived.
• Primocane growth may be somewhat reduced under this delayed-thinning method, due to competition among new canes.
• Before growth starts in spring, cut the canes to about 12 inches above the support.
• Don't cut back more than 25% of each cane, to avoid reducing yield.

Fall-bearing raspberries

If only a fall crop is desired, cut all canes off at the base before growth begins in spring.

• Fruit will be produced on primocanes in late summer or fall.
• To get both fall and summer crops, thin the canes as described for summer-bearing raspberries.
• The primocanes that produced the fall crop should not be removed, as they will produce fruit the following summer.
• Prune them back in spring to about 12 inches above the support, or to the last visible node that had fruit, cutting off the dead tips.

Black and purple raspberries

• When primocanes are between 24 to 30 inches in height, pinch out the tip of each shoot to induce branching. This will make the fruit easier to pick and increase production.
• After harvest, cut down all canes that bore fruit to ground level.
• Before growth begins the following spring, cut back all side branches so they are 12 to 18 inches long.
• Select 4 to 5 canes per hill, and prune out the rest. Tie these canes to the support system.

Raspberries of all colors are ready to pick when their color is developed and the fruit is plump and tender. Another indicator of ripeness is when the fruit comes off the plant easily when gently pulled.

Berries ripen over a couple of weeks, so simply pick them as they ripen.

Pick berries into a shallow container. If they get piled too deep they'll crush each other.

Right after picking, place raspberries in the fridge. If your fridge tends to dry out produce, lightly cover the container. Raspberries don't store for very long, usually just a few days.

Don't wash berries until you're ready to eat them; the moisture will cause them to break down more quickly.

Raspberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow in home gardens. Raspberries grown in Minnesota have relatively few insect pests and diseases.

Gardeners who use integrated pest management (IPM) practices often have good yields every year without applying pesticides.

• IPM allows gardeners to reduce pests to a tolerable level by using the best balance of cultural, physical, biological and chemical management strategies.
• IPM takes into account the level of damage a pest is capable of causing, as well as the possible risks to humans and the environment associated with each pest management strategy.

Insects to watch for

Raspberries can be damaged by spider mites, aphids, tarnished plant bugs and other insect pests.

However, on the scale of the home garden, these insects are rarely a problem and are usually managed by keeping the planting area clean and weed-free, maintaining healthy plants, and removing any damaged, dead or infested parts of the plant. If mites or aphids are discovered, a firm spray of water is often all that is needed to dislodge them.

Japanese beetles can wreak havoc quickly by chewing on the leaves of raspberry plants, making them look like lace. Damage is obvious, and so are the beetles. They're rather large (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long), iridescent green and bronze, with a row of little white tufts along their sides.

Keep an eye on your plants, and at the first sign take a pail of soapy water into the garden and flick the beetles off the plant into the pail and wait for them to die before disposing. The adult beetles only live for a few weeks from late-June into July. Monitor your plants and destroy beetles during this time, and you should be able to prevent significant damage.

Picnic beetles, also called sap beetles, can become a nuisance soon after berries begin to ripen. They are attracted to all types of overripe fruit, as are wasps. Frequent picking will help reduce the amount of overripe fruit and decrease the area's attractiveness to these insects.

Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive fruit fly and a major pest in commercial raspberry plantings in Minnesota. These problematic insects might be found in home raspberry plantings as well.

Rabbits are partial to raspberry canes in winter, and will eat them, thorns and all, right down to the ground or the snow line. A simple chicken wire fence around your raspberry plants should protect them from rabbits throughout the winter.

To properly diagnose pest problems on raspberry plants, it is important to understand the normal growth pattern of these plants.

When trying to identify what is killing leaves or canes, always check to see if the symptoms are on the primocanes or floricanes. Since floricanes die in the middle of summer, yellow and dying leaves on floricanes after June is considered normal, but yellow leaves on primocanes may indicate a problem.

Diseases can be limited by planting certified disease-free plants, destroying wild or abandoned brambles near the garden, and removing weak and diseased plants in established plantings.

After harvest, remove and destroy canes that have fruited or are weak.

One of the most effective measures is to improve air circulation by proper thinning and pruning and by controlling weeds.

Keep an eye out for spots, discoloration, parts of the plants dying, or moldy growth on leaves or fruit. 

Heat can damage raspberries.

Hot days with strong sunlight may cause the production of berries that have white or colorless drupelets (the small, individual, seed-containing parts of each berry). The white drupelets will be flavorless, but there is no harm in eating them.

Once the weather cools, normal berries will be produced. Heat can also cause berries to ripen faster than you can pick them, which can attract insects. Pick ripe fruit immediately.

Winter injury

Very few raspberry varieties are completely hardy in Minnesota; even hardy varieties can exhibit symptoms of winter injury following severe winters. Winter injury can also occur after winters when the temperature fluctuates between mild and extremely cold.

Winter injury is often confused with cane blight, but it can be distinguished from other diseases due to its characteristic symptoms.

• The tips of the canes are most susceptible to winter cold.
• Mild winter injury will result in the death of the top few inches of a cane.
• With severe winter injury, the top few feet of the canes will die.
• In almost all cases of winter injury, there will be healthy leaves at the bottom of the cane.
• If the winter injury occurred with a few inches of snow, then the canes die to snow level and will produce healthy leaves and fruit from the lower canes.

Raspberries that produce flowers and fruit on first year canes (primocanes) will always show some dieback in the spring. Dieback in fall-bearing raspberries is normal and is not considered winter injury.

Flowering in primocanes always starts at the tips of the canes and later flowers sprout lower in the cane. Any part of the cane that produces flowers will die in the winter. Always choose varieties that are suitable for your zone in Minnesota.

Leaf spot, spur blight, cane blight and anthracnose can make raspberries more susceptible to winter injury. Healthy plants will survive the Minnesota winters better.