We’re having such fun with our raspberries this year. They loved all the winter rains and we’re getting a good crop. I’ve even gotten enough to make sauces and jam. Our cool coast is the idea climate for these sweet, flavorful, ruby-red berries.
Five years ago we had the offer from a fellow Master Gardener, to help ourselves to some raspberries growing in her backyard in San Luis Obispo. “They spread like mad so come on over and dig up what you want.” Husband Don had his shovel and bucket out and ready in about three seconds. To us, raspberries are a delicacy. We just can’t get our fill at $4.00 a basket.
Most raspberries bear fruit on two-year-old canes. Our raspberries are the everbearing type that bears fruit on old canes in spring and early summer and on new canes in late summer and early fall. This works well for small families that would like to pick berries for a longer period of time, rather than all at once for canning. The new canes are gray-green and the older canes are brown so it’s easy to tell the difference. It’s best to cut the older canes to the ground after they have borne fruit so that new canes can replace them. Some folks actually mow them in the fall but this will cause you to sacrifice that first, delicious crop in early spring.
Raspberries (except for the trailing varieties) do not need a tall support as does the olallieberry. Our everbearing raspberries stand up pretty much on their own. We strung two wires about two feet apart on two posts with horizontal arms. The wires run down each side of the planting row at a height of about 40 inches. This holds the vines back so that we can get up close for picking. You can also plant four plants inside a three-foot diameter circle of builders wire if space is a concern.
Pick raspberries early in the morning if possible. To harvest, wait until they are plump, then gently pull on them. If they come off easily, they are ripe. Raspberries are the only berries that leave their center on the bush as you pull them off. If the center of the berry is empty, you know you have picked a ripe raspberry.
Some people have told me that they can’t have raspberries because they spread by underground runners. This is true! We simply take a shovel and go down both sides of the row, cutting the roots and tearing them out. We’ve always found someone who wants these runners to start their own raspberry production. It’s fun to spread the wealth!
Sounds wonderful. Do you know the name of your variety? If you need to thin the herd please add me to the queue. I’ll happily zoom up the coast and take them off your hands. 🙂
I think they might be “Heritage” but the person that gave them to me wasn’t sure. She said that everyone had passed them around the neighborhood where she lived (out by the airport) and had the same variety. I’ll remember you want some, Christine, and let you know that I have them. We’ll probably clean them up in the fall.
Oh, great — thank you!
Dear Lee,
My youger brother lives in Arroyo Grande, and is always jealous when I speak of picking my raspberries here in Oregon. I was thinking of ordering him some for a gift, but I’d rather request some of your cuttings, which I know grow successfully there in SLO! Do you think you’d have enough to go around and share with him also this fall? I could have someone pick them up – he lives off Corbett Canyon Road on some property 🙂 – and give them to him for an early Christmas present. After all the cool weather you had this year, it seemed like raspberries would be very happy there! THank you!! Kathy
Hi Kathy. I’ve got a list going but not sure I’ll have enough for your brother. Wish I’d known how popular they’d be. Last year I threw out a bunch. I’ll keep your post in mind or if I hear of another gardener with extra cuttings, I’ll put them in touch with you. Good luck!
Thank you Lee! Too bad you don’t know what kind they are…. Yes, please let me know if you hear of anyone that you’ve shared your cuttings with having some to share.
Beautiful raspberry patch! Do you have any extra cuttings this year?
Thanks!