Raspberry

One of the most rewarding soft fruits for the allotment. Plant summer-fruiting canes and you'll have a picking row that returns every year with minimal effort.

Waiting this month

Sow

—

Plant Out

Jan – Mar

Harvest

Jun – Aug

Type

Outdoor

Difficulty

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Apr

Plan ahead for this crop

•Check growing conditions
•Prepare for next stage

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

Canes planted with roots at 8–10cm depth

Spacing

45cm between canes, 1.8m between rows

Germination

New growth appears 4–6 weeks after planting bare-root canes

Thinning

Thin to 8–10 strong canes per metre after the first full growing season

Grower's Note

Summer-fruiting varieties fruit on last year's canes. Autumn varieties fruit on new season growth — cut all canes to the ground in February.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

4wks

Seeds germinate and first leaves emerge. Keep warm and moist.

Establishing

12wks

Root system develops and plant builds structure. Pot on if needed.

Maturing

16wks

Plant reaches full size and begins producing. Harvest at peak.

Total~32 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

GarlicMarigoldTansyChives

Climate Control

Today

—C

Humidity

—%

Water

Every 2–3 days

Sunlight

6+ hours direct sun

Watch Out For

! Raspberry beetle larvae tunnel into fruit — treat with an approved spray at first blossom if it was a problem the previous year
! Spur blight causes dark patches at the base of canes — remove and burn affected canes immediately rather than composting
! Birds strip ripe fruit within hours — net the entire row before the first fruits begin to colour