We all love those beautiful sweet red berries. With a little care, they will perform very nicely in your garden.

Raspberries can be a bit demanding, but well worth your efforts by following a few important steps.

Make certain Raspberries are planted in well-drained sandy loam at least 24 inches deep.  Plant in mounds in you are working in an area that is slow to drain.  Otherwise, root rot can occur in early spring.

Start your Raspberry Patch from dormant plants available in early spring for best results.*

• Raspberries need full sun all day long.
• Provide for cultivation on both sides of the rows for good cane growth
• Suggested planting distance for berries is 30 inches between plants within a row and rows 8-10 feet apart.  Keep rows at a width of 12 inches, removing excess primocanes.
• Watering is critical during the fruit ripening stage and when flower buds from for the following year's growth.

*There are two types of raspberry available to the home gardener.  June-bearing and Everbearing. Meeker and Chilliwack are just a couple of the more popular Cultivars for June bearing. Heritage is a late season Fall fruiting cultivar.

For more information on growing Raspberries and other fruit crops,  as well as many helpful publications offered through WSU  Extension, click on this link.

Also, Plant clinics are offered on Thursdays...9:00-1:00 currently at the Anacortes Senior Center.  Bring plant specimens or questions in...we are happy to help you!

- Marla Hovey, Master Gardener

And now enjoy the fruits of the harvest:

White Chocolate Raspberry Tart