Growing your own raspberries
Raspberries are easy to grow, don’t take up much space in the garden and the fruits are expensive to buy, making them an ideal crop to grow at home. You can buy dormant bare root canes or potted raspberry plants, depending on your budget and the time of year. Bare root raspberry canes are the most cost-effective option.
When to plant raspberry canes
We recommend planting your canes in late autumn, but you can plant them at any time between October and March, as long as your soil isn’t too wet or frozen.
How to plant bare root raspberry canes
Soak your raspberry canes in water for a few hours before planting. Dig the holes wide and deep enough to lay out the roots so that they’re covered by about 10cm of soil when you’re finished. Firm down the soil gently to make sure there are no air pockets and water. Add mulch if you’re expecting very cold temperatures. Raspberries should be planted in a straight line, and summer-fruiting varieties will need support. For full planting instructions, see our best expert advice on growing raspberries.
How far apart to prune raspberry canes
Plant the canes around 18 inches apart in rows about six feet from each other. Summer-fruiting raspberries can be planted a little closer together, with roughly 12 inches between them.
When to prune raspberry canes
It’s important to prune your raspberries regularly if you want healthy plants and good crops. Summer-fruiting and autumn-fruiting varieties are pruned differently. The fruited canes of summer-fruiting raspberries should be right back down to the ground in the summer after harvest (but don’t prune the new canes that haven’t fruited yet). For autumn-fruiting raspberries, simply cut down all the canes every February.
If you’re looking for practical tips to help you become more self-sufficient, browse our collection of Growing Guides for information and advice.
