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Raspberry first timer
emmapynn
Posts: 65
in Fruit & veg
HI - I'm very new to gardening and have just moved into a new house. I have planted some fruit against my fence.... my question is - is one raspberry plant enough to grow some fruit for my son and other half to eat ? I don't need loads but my Nan seems to think I should plant ten in a row ? Any advice greatly appreciated
i have also planted:
1x gooseberry
2x blackberry
10 X strawberry
1x blueberry
0
Posts
Your Nan is right. Unless you are planning on having one raspberry each, you need to have a few plants. The other plants should produce a reasonable crop when mature and the strawberries may put out runners so you will be able to increase the number of plants for free. The blueberry needs to be in acid soil. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/blueberries
10 in a row is mental! You'll have a garden of only raspberry plants in about 5 years, unless of course the blackberries take over first; they both spread aggressively. If you can contain them or have lots of garden then go for it, but I would recommend avoiding the blackberries (perhaps some grow on public land near you that you can pick?). You should get a few dozen raspberries off each plant a year so it does depend on whether you want a taste or a supply. Personally, I grow Tayberries instead they taste better and don't spread so much.
You also need to plant Blueberries in pairs otherwise you'll get no fruit (they aren't self-pollinating), in acidic soil. They'll die if the root dries out and be aware that tap water raises the pH level, so only water this way to avoid the root drying out when there's no rain around and your waterbutt is empty!
Have you checked the pH of your soil? Blueberries need to be in a pot if you have neutral-alkaline soil or you will have a constant battle to keep it acidic. If you live in a soft water area (cornwall, parts of scotland & wales) you can water blueberries with tap water. To find out what your water pH is you can check on your waterboards website. Most of England has liquid lime coming out of their taps and neutral-alkaline soil. I have to save my water butt rain water for my blueberry.
Some varieties of blueberries are self-fertile but all will do better with a different variety of the same type(there are diffent types of blueberries; highbush & lowbush) nearby plus you can extend the harvest with early and late varieties. This also works with other fruit.
Love soft fruit but my garden is too small to grow it for more than just a taste. I am hoping my gooseberry and blueberries will one day be big enough to have aproper harvest from.To try and maximise the amount I have wild strawberries growing on planters on a shady fence.
Last edited: 18 August 2016 11:53:10
10 might sound excessive but make sure you have a mix of varieties to stagger fruiting so that you get a long steady season of fruit rather than a huge glut all at once. (Remember it'll freeze too!)
Rainbowfish, I think you stand a good chance with the blueberries being big enough for a proper harvest - the ones I saw at Wisley were taller than I am.
Hi Emma
I grow "Polka" raspberries which - despite being 'autumn fruiting' - have actually been producing small amounts of fruit for 2 or 3 weeks already and are now starting to fruit heavily - I can pick a small bowlful every day. They will continue producing fruit until the first frosts.
When they've finished fruiting all canes are simply cut to the ground - no worrying about which to cut and which to tie in for next year. The birds leave the raspberries alone (lots of other things for them at this time of year) - so no need for netting - and the stems only need to be contained when they start getting a bit floppy. Summer fruiters need a much sturdier permanent support system.
I would therefore recommend autumn fruiting raspberries over summer fruiters every time. You'll have lots of strawberries earlier in the summer anyway.
I have 4 canes which were planted last spring. They have already filled a space 1m x 3.5m. They will produce more than enough berries for my OH and me to enjoy fresh, as puree, as jam and stored in the freezer. 10 canes are almost certainly too many unless you have a big plot. My 4 canes are already starting to put out runners that are popping up a few feet away from the parent plant.
Clari is right that you could try to grow different varieties to stagger fruiting but you should not plant summer fruiters within 2m of autumn fruiters. The 2 types have different pruning regimes - and if you end up with a forest of new canes it can be difficult to tell which ones belong to which plant and which pruning regime to follow.
Wow thank you SO much for all of the detailed responses ! I had not idea how complicated it was to grow fruit ! really appreciate the advice !