Raspberries

Raspberries are in the same family as blackberries. Where blackberries have more versatility in their canes, raspberries have more versatility in their fruit. While all raspberries make aggregate fruit, some are dark purple, some are bright red and some are even bright orange.

There are some disadvantages to this versatility in that some raspberries are susceptible to diseases which they can then spread through the patch. Black raspberries in particular are prone to viral diseases and aphid infestations. Because of this they should be planted at least 100 feet away from other plants.

All raspberry plants can harbor early blight and should not be planted near a garden where tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or potatoes are planted.

Another major difference between raspberries and blackberries is that the core pulls free. While this might seem like a minor thing on the surface, it greatly improves the processing time after harvest.

Growing zone: 4 to 8

Time to maturity: Two years

Pollination needs: Self-pollinating

Pruning/Thinning: Dead canes should be removed as soon as you see them. If plants propagate to a degree where they are crowding each other you should transplant the smaller plants out of the area in early spring.

Harvest time: Most come ripe in early to mid-July. Some will continue to produce berries through the rest of the growing season.

Long term storage options: If they are quick frozen, raspberries will handle life in the freezer for 6 to 8 weeks before freezer burn sets into the spaces between the aggregate fruit. However it is probably better to make them into jam which can be canned and put up in the root cellar for up to two years.

Raspberry wine is very full bodied. The berries need to be heated up to 180 degrees for one minute in order to kill any bacteria living in the spaces in the aggregate fruit.