Focus on…Raspberries

THEIR long cropping season, generous yields and kitchen versatility have earned raspberries a permanent place on many plots countrywide. If you’re one of the few gardeners who doesn’t grow them, now is the time to redeem this oversight – winter is the perfect season for planting! So, what are the key pieces of information you need to succeed?

Common ground

All raspberries have certain growing requirements (see checklist). They will thrive in cooler summers with adequate rainfall. While traits of American and other species have been bred into modern varieties, the raspberry is still predominantly European in origin. A chilling period is important, too, with around six weeks of cold needed to synchronise bud burst and flowering in spring. While plants are