How to grow raspberries

Types

Illinois Extension (Illinois): raspberries belong to the genus Rubus, part of the rose family. Cultivated raspberries have been derived mainly from two species, the wild red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis). Purple type is a cross between the black and red raspberry, and yellow type is a mutant red raspberry. Underground root stem and crown are perennial; canes from underground buds are biennial — primocanes (first year canes) and floricanes (canes in second year). Receptacle remains on the plant when fruit is harvested, leaving a hole at the bottom of the fruit. Identification.

Types

Illinois Extension (Illinois): almost all raspberries bear fruit on 2-year-old canes, then the cane dies. Both summer bearing and everbearing varieties are available — except in the case of black raspberries. Identification.

Limit

Illinois small-fruits raspberries page. Identification only — not a start calendar.

Types

University of Minnesota Extension (Minnesota): raspberries belong to a large group of fruits known as brambles, all in the plant genus Rubus. Three main types that can be grown in the home garden are red, black and purple. Yellow raspberries are red raspberries that don't make red pigment. Raspberry plants have perennial roots and crowns, but their canes live for only two summers. Identification.

Types

University of Minnesota Extension (Minnesota): primocanes are the green, fleshy stalks that grow each year. During the first year the new primocane develops brown bark, then goes through a dormant period in winter and becomes a floricane during the second growing season. Floricanes are woody and brown; the floricane produces fruit in early to mid summer and then dies. Identification.

Limit

Minnesota growing-raspberries page. Identification only — not harvest.

Types

NC State Extension (North Carolina): the raspberry plant has perennial roots and crowns, but their canes live for 2 years. The first year canes produce only leaves as they emerge from the ground; these canes go dormant in the winter. In the following spring, these second year canes produce flowers and fruit, and after fruiting the cane dies. Summer fruiting types. A second type, everbearing, will produce fruit on the tips of the first year canes. Identification.

Limit

North Carolina raspberries-in-the-home-garden page. Identification only — not harvest.

Types

University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Maine): the crowns and roots of raspberry plants are perennial, but individual canes live for two years. Each spring the plants produce canes (suckers) from buds on the crown and on underground lateral stems. These canes, called primocanes, grow vegetatively during the first season, overwinter, and produce fruit during the summer of the second year. These second-year canes, called floricanes, die shortly after fruiting. Everbearing-type raspberries bear fruit on the tips of the primocanes in the fall, followed by fruit on the lower portion of the same canes in the second year. Identification.

Limit

Maine bulletin 2066 raspberry clauses only — not harvest.