Raspberries.

I really want to grow some raspberries next year but I don't know how to start. can I grow them in a container or will I need to plant them in the ground? any advice is much appreciated.

 

Hi Allan,

It is possible to grow in large containers but then there's the watering thing.....they like a drink and pots will dry out very quickly......if you've got the space i'd recommend they go in the ground...dig the ground over and plant around 3ft apart depending on the space you have....there's Autumn and Summer fruiting Rasps...i grow summer ones but i've heard said the Autumn ones are more flavour some.......it's worth building a frame work of sturdy poles and wire so you can tie the canes in.....plenty of watering in the spring and a good deep mulch and you won't look back

 

I grow mine in a pot and have a very satisfying crop every year.

 

Hi Allan,
I have my raspberry trio in a 50cm container. It's their first year but we have already had a fair few handfuls of raspberries and more are maturing. I invested about £3 in a Wilkinson trio of plants, 1 early, 1 mid- and 1 late fruiting variety. They might get a bit crowded when they grow, but so far are happy with regular watering and feeding.

The container looks very nice, full of lush greenery, and as they are growing next to the house the birds haven't found them yet. Slugs hate them as well.

 

when did u get that from wilko's? early in the year id guess. I know they have them in every year as ive seen them, ill give it a go when I see them in again

 

In my opinion they need to be in the ground. They are a suckering plant (next year's fruit comes from canes that grow as suckers from the parent) and that takes space, lots of nutrients and water.

Also, I think in order to get enough to pick at one time for a site-down with friends you need several plants, otherwise you are each only going to get a couple. We have 10 plants each of 10 different varieties (from first super-early right through to the last-of-the-late which usually gets the frost before the fruit is ripe ...) I think 10 plants is a good number, but if you look after them better than I do you would probably get the same amount of fruit off half that number - lets say a couple of punnet once to twice a week.

 

not sure I have anywhere suitable to plant them in the ground. and the last thing I want to do is cut any more patches out of my lawn, its just too tiring lol!

 

Ah well, in that case sounds like you should have a go at containers then You might want to rig something up to make the watering easier (e.g. automated!)

 

i did actually buy a 20m long drip irrigator from wilkinsons for £3, so i now have another use for it.

 

I decided when I moved into this tiny house with a tiny garden 9 years ago I decided that grass was a wasted space so dug it over(front garden) and planted John Downy culinary crab apple, Herbs assorted, well any thing that could be eaten. A couple of years ago purchased some autumn Raspberries from Thompson/Morgan, never having grown soft fruit was very surprised how easy and prolific they were.I just dug a hole and put them all innit together they soon sorted them selves out, my lazy way but did put a lot of blood/fish/bone meal in the hole reckon thats why they did so well
We have also been eating runner beans for the last 6 weeks, Horse Radish looks promising.wild garlic is very tasty in the spring the amount of interesting food you can grown in a very small apace is amazing, but the raspberries need to be free range I found they amble along all over the garden like mint they are popping up all over the place so I have left them to do their own thing they certainly keep the weeds under control.

 

Best to have that in a pot, and stood on a paving slab!, to stop it escaping Difficult to get rid of once "naturalised". Similarly with Mint.

Raspberries also spread, but the wayward ones are easily dealt with (compared to the other two culprits )

 

Kristen, can you recommend an Autumn variety that won't get taken by frost?

 

Mine are (in cropping order)

Glen cova,
Glen ample,
Maling Jewel,
Admiral,
Glen Magna,
Leo,
Octavia,
Tulmeen ,
All Gold (Yellow),
Autumn Bliss,
Heritage

We almost never crop Heritage, and Autumn Bliss can be a bit hit and miss.

 

My hero! Bet you can identify my original UK raspberry for me from that selection? They are early to midsummer cropping, the canes are completely smooth, and the fruit is huge and well-flavoured...does that tie in with your Malling Jewel?

 

I know where Malling Jewel is planted (in the row) so I'll have a look at the canes ... otherwise might have to wait for next year for a fruit comparison