Description
An extremely popular bramble that does not require a trellis or a fence to creep.
They self-pollinate and our Red Raspberry Plants will bear fruit in summer and then again in autumn.
Harvesting
Raspberries are ready for harvesting when fully ripe and easily come off the plant when gently tugged. Harvest regularly to ensure you pick them at their peak flavour and quality.
Soil Type
Black Raspberries prefer soil with a PH level of 5.8 – 6.8, well drained and slightly acidic.
Our Raspberry Kit consists of:
1 Raspberry Plant
Berry Mix
Volcanic Rock Dust
Our Ultra Slow Release Berry Fertiliser is an optional extra!
Dig a 50cm x 50cm deep hole and add a bag of Berry Mix or acid compost. Mix the berry mix and volcanic rock dust into the top section of this soil. Make a little hole and plant, ensuring you don’t add the soil higher than where the soil is in the bag. Then add the Pine Bark mulch on top, keeping it away from the plant’s stem. Place the plant directly into the soil mixture and cover it with pine bark mulch.
Fertilising
Apply our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertiliser. For young plants, apply 1 teaspoon every 4-5 months. The roots will absorb what they need.
Position
This plant thrives in full sun (about 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily). But, it tolerates partial shade and very cold temperatures when necessary.
Plant yours in a spot as protected from the wind as possible.
Size
It grows to a height of between 90 and 150 centimetres, and stretches 60 to 90 centimetres in width.
Mulch
Use a mulch of pine bark and green pine needles that is 5 to 15 centimetres thick around the base of the plant, not near the stems. Raspberries thrive in moisture-retentive, fertile, slightly acidic soils, and mulch plays an important role in creating these optimal conditions.
Make sure not to have your mulch touching the branches of the plant. This may cause the branches to rot and get infected, especially with new branches (one and two-year-old boughs).
Watering
In very hot weather, water your bush once a day. When conditions cool down a little, two or three times a week should suffice. Do not overwater your bush as this causes root rot. Black raspberries can be planted at any time provided the soil is not waterlogged.
Pruning
In the winter, prune back the canes that bore fruit in the summer to promote new growth and keep your bramble tidy. After the last summer harvest, promptly remove the old stems at the soil level.
Pests
As raspberries produce hardwood canes, watch out for borer.
