Everyone loves raspberries. We eat them in jams and jellies, pies and tarts, salads, yogurts, shakes, smoothies, ice creams, sauces, fresh, or frozen. They are wonderfully heathy for us too. Have them around the house, and they simply disappear, they are so good. Too bad they are so expensive to buy. That must mean that they are hard to grow, right?Wrong. Raspberries are expensive because they have a very short shelf life, something that is not a problem for those who grow their own. You'll be lucky if they all reach the kitchen in the first place!
Raspberries are relatively easy to grow, are prolific, and live for years. Raspberries do need a support system, as they are top heavy, and the soil preparation may take some time. However, as long as the soil drains well, has a ph close to 6 (only slightly acidic), and hasn't been planted with tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes recently, there shouldn't be too much work involved in planting them. Then, once they are planted, just mulch once a year, keep them moist in the summer, dry in the winter, support them with wire or trellis, and prune as they die off. Plant one cane, and watch it multiply by dozens year after year. Think of all those yummy berries! They are definitely worth that little bit of work.
There are many types of raspberries to choose from. You can plant golds, blacks, purples, and of course reds. There are ever bearing varieties, and ones with one large crop per year. You can find varieties to grow in zones 3-10. And what's more, raspberries are self pollinating, so you can grow just one plant if that's all you want.
So, if you don't already have raspberries in your garden, you may want to consider planting one. I seriously doubt you'll regret it.
The University of Maine has some good videos on raspberries. Watch and learn.
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