Raspberry Plant Care Information

How to Take Care of Raspberries -
Watering, Fertilizing, Spraying,
Winterizing, Pruning and More

If you grow raspberries, or you are considering growing them, and you are looking for information about how to care for these plants you have come to the right place!

Here you will find very simple, basic instructions for raspberry plant care for the home gardener.

By following these easy guidelines, you will be able to enjoy home-grown raspberries year after year. 

Watering Requirements for Raspberry Plants

For new raspberry plantings, keep plants well watered, especially during dry periods of little or no rainfall.

For established raspberry plants specific watering is not normally required, unless drought conditions exist.

If necessary, water raspberries 1 - 2 deep waters per week during the flowering and fruiting season, this is the most critical period of water requirements for the best raspberry plant care.

Raspberry plants which suffer from drought conditions will produce smaller fruit. 

Sun / Light Requirements for Raspberry Plants

As a general rule, raspberry plants thrive best in full sun conditions.

Note that light requirements may vary between different raspberry varieties.

---

---

Fertilizer Requirements for Raspberry Plants

For new raspberry plantings, I would suggest you fertilize them about one month after planting. Use organic fertilizer and compost, or use chemical fertilizer, whichever you prefer. We use 10-10-10 for our raspberry patch. In the Fall/Autumn, fertilize the berries again.

For established raspberry plants I suggest fertilizing the plants in early Spring with organic fertilizer and compost, or with chemical fertilizer. We use 6-24-24, to enhance both root and flower (fruit) development. After the plants have fruited, apply a fertilizer of 10-10-10 (or your choice of organic fertilizer/compost).

When fertilizing the raspberry plants, be careful not to over-fertilize. Do not use more than about 110-150 g/m per row. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the plants, and about 60cm on each side of the row.

Concentrated fertilizing applications too close to the roots of the raspberry plants will burn the roots and kill the plant.

Manure (well-rotted) is a very good source of organic matter. All organic matter should be free of weed seeds. 

Dormant Oil / Liquid Lime Sulphur Spray Applications

In order to eradicate over-wintering insect pest and fungal diseases it is advisable to apply dormant oil combined with liquid lime sulphur to the raspberry plants.

The raspberry plants should be sprayed with this in early Spring, before any leaf growth appears on the raspberry canes.

Dormant Oil / Liquid Lime Sulphur and Fungicides are available for purchase at most Garden Centers, or can be purchased online at *Amazon.com (see below).

The preferred application method is the use of a garden sprayer as shown in the images below.

Click on the images below for additional product information and customer reviews.

---

Weed Control in the Raspberry Patch

As in most gardens, weeds will compete with the raspberries for both nutrients and moisture. 

It is a good idea to plant dense grass between the rows of raspberry plants, and around the raspberry patch, and keep the grass cut. This will help to prevent weeds from becoming established in those areas.

Control existing weeds within the patch and in adjacent areas by hoeing, and digging up perennial weeds as needed. Mowing weeds that have not been removed will help prevent the weeds from flowering and setting seed. It is important to control weeds before they create a new crop of seeds.

For Natural, DO it Yourself Weed Control Ideas,

GO to Natural Weed Control Tips

Raspberry Blossom /Flower Removal

On new plantings only, (the first year of planting), it is advisable to remove the raspberry blossoms/flowers that appear. This will allow the raspberry plants to become better established, using all the plant's energy to build a strong root system.

Mulching Raspberry Plants

If desired, raspberry plants can be mulched to conserve soil moisture, and to keep the soil around the plants cool. All mulch material should be free of weed seeds. This is not necessary for optimal raspberry plant care.

---

---

Training and Trellising the Raspberry Plants

From time to time, as you go through your raspberry patch, encourage the canes to grow between the lengths of twine in the trellis system you set up when planting the raspberry plants.

Pruning and Caning Raspberry Plants

Raspberry plants must be pruned at the required time. Failing to do so will severely impact the growth and fruiting of your raspberry bushes. 

GO to How to Prune Raspberry Plants 

Inspecting Raspberry Plants for Pests and Diseases

Inspect your raspberry bushes from time to time to observe if any plant pests or diseases are visible, and use the appropriate method to solve the problem. Be vigilant! Once pests take hold of a berry patch, they reproduce quickly. Early detection and treatment of plant pests and plant disease is important to maintain healthy raspberry plants

GO to Raspberry PESTS Information

GO to Raspberry DISEASES Information 

Harvesting the Raspberries

It is important for optimal raspberry plant care, to visit your raspberry patch daily when the fruit is ripening.

Raspberries should be harvested, (picked), when ripe, every day, or every other day. Do not allow berries to become overripe and rotting on the bushes. Overripe raspberries, and raspberries which have been left to decay will attract insects, for example; Japanese Beetles. These insects feed on the overripe fruit and will, very quickly, prove to become problem pests in the berry patch.

GO to HARVESTING / PICKING Raspberries

Winter Protection for Raspberry Plants

Do you need to protect your raspberry plants during the winterÉ

If desired, raspberries can be protected from winter conditions by mulching. Unless your raspberry patch is exposed to severe cold and harsh winter conditions, this is not usually required. I live in Ontario, Canada, and we have never protected our raspberry plants for the winter, (and yes, it gets VERY cold here!).

If you do decide to protect your raspberry plants, be sure to remove the mulch in the early Spring to help avoid rotting material from affecting the plants.

---

For additional raspberry plant care tips and general information about growing raspberry plants, please refer to the following helpful links below (or use the navigation bars).

GROWING Raspberries

PLANTING Raspberry Plants

TRANSPLANTING Raspberry Plants
(Dividing/Propagating Raspberry Plants)

Raspberry VARIETIES

Growing Raspberries from SEED

HARVESTING Raspberries

PRUNING Raspberries

Raspberry PESTS

Raspberry DISEASES

ORGANIC Raspberries 

---

TOP of Raspberry Plant Care 
 
HOME to Homepage of Raspberry-Depot.com