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Growing Raspberries in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers

Gardening Guide: Raspberries Rule! Gardening Guide

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Growing Raspberries in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers

By Norann Oleson

Raspberries in open land

Raspberries in open land

Raspberries are easy to plant and grow, but they have a few requirements than can affect where you plant them. Raspberries hate wet feet, so they require sandy or loamy soil that drains well. Raspberry plants also spread and can grow tall, so many home gardeners choose to plant them along a fence or wall, in rows, and apart from other garden plants. Raspberry plants also need full sun to thrive and fruit, and prefer soil with a pH of around 6.

If you have a large outside plot of land with the right soil and the right conditions for watering and draining, you might have the ideal situation for planting your raspberries directly in the ground. If, however, your soil has too much clay or gets soggy, you might want to consider planting in raised beds or in containers.

Growing in Raised Beds

Raspberry cane being planted in raised bed

Raspberry cane being planted in raised bed

Raised beds are a great option for growing raspberries if you have perpetually wet, heavy soil. Creating raised beds for your raspberry garden can be a lot of work the first time you set up your beds, but having raised beds allows you more control over your growing environment. You’ll discover that watering, irrigation, weeding, and even harvesting are much easier, with items closer to your reach and contained in a space that is more manageable than growing in open land.

To create nicely contained raised beds for your raspberries, enclose your raised beds with wooden sides 18 to 20 inches deep—this will give the plants’ roots room for spreading. Raspberry plants spread above ground, too, so allow 3 to 5 feet between each plant. Don’t worry if your patch looks sparse at first, it will start filling in the gaps the first year.

A raised bed garden is less likely to contain the seeds of weeds that are often found in garden soil. You’ll minimize the incidence of weeds overall, which will save you time and effort later. Weeding itself is much easier with raised beds, because you don’t have to get down so far on the ground to remove weeds.

Raised Bed Planting Tip: Be sure to amend your soil with compost at least once a year. Otherwise, your soil can become less productive for your plants.

Growing Raspberries in Containers or Pots

Raspberries growing in pots

Raspberries growing in pots

If you don’t have the space for growing in open land or in raised beds—let’s say you live in an apartment with no land of your own for a garden, for example—you can grow raspberries in containers or pots on your balcony, porch, patio, or deck.

One great advantage to container gardening is the ability to move plants around more easily to maximize their exposure to the sun. Raspberries need six to eight hours of sun a day to fully fruit.

Tip: If you have trouble moving pots around, because they’re too heavy or too bulky, try putting your pots on slightly raised rolling casters so you can more easily move them around your space.

Raspberry plants like to roam, but you can grow them in containers if you follow some guidelines. Select a dwarf variety of raspberry plants, preferably one without thorns, like Raspberry Shortcake. As with planting raspberries in the ground or beds, make sure you put them in pots that have room for the roots—at least 2 to 3 feet tall and just as wide. Half barrels or five-gallon tubs work well. Just make sure the pots have drainage holes. Also, though they’re pretty, avoid ceramic and terra cotta pots as they might crack as they freeze and thaw during the winter. Fill the containers with potting mix, not ground soil, and add organic fertilizer just after planting.

Though weeding is much easier with containers, you have to be more vigilant about watering and irrigation as plants can dry out much faster than when they’re in the ground—but overwatering your raspberries can cause root rot. Plus, containers can lose important soil nutrients throughout the season, so you might need additional fertilizer.

At the end of the growing season, prune the dead canes (those with no new growth) at soil level and place the pots in an unheated garage, shed, or other cool, sheltered place where they can go dormant. Return them to their sunny spot after the danger of frost passes in the spring. If you plan to keep the container plants in place year-round, insulate them with mulch for protection.

How do you grow your raspberries—in open land, in raised beds, or in containers? Why do you prefer your method? Please tell us your tips and tricks for creating a bountiful raspberry garden.

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container gardening, creating raised beds, fertilizer, growing in raised beds, growing raspberries, growing raspberries in containers, organic fertilizer, overwatering, planting in raised beds, planting raspberries, raspberries, raspberries in containers, raspberry garden

Comments
  • Jim S. December 28, 2022

    I have grown raspberries for about 10 years in 5 gallon pots. (Zone 8b). 10 months of the year the pots are in my potting area. When the berries ripen, I move the pots to my patio. Each morning I can step out of the back door and pick a handful of berries for my breakfast. When the berries are gone, I move the pots back to the potting area.

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raspberries gardening guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Raspberry Plants
  • A Word About Varieties of Raspberry Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Raspberries from Bare Root or Tissue Culture Plants
  • Growing Raspberries in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Raspberry Plants
  • Planting and Pruning Raspberries
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Raspberry Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Raspberry Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Raspberry Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Raspberry Diseases
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Raspberry Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Raspberry Patch
  • Root Rot on Raspberry Plants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Phytophthora Root Rot
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing Raspberries
  • Plant Profiles

  • Heritage Raspberries
  • Cascade Delight Raspberries
  • Anne Raspberries
  • Raspberry Shortcake Raspberries
  • Boyne Raspberries
  • Brandywine Raspberries
  • Recipes

  • Raspberry Ricotta Cake
  • Raspberry Streusel Bars
  • Raspberry Goat Cheese Salad
  • Easy Raspberry Coulis
  • Chicken Thighs with Raspberry-Balsamic Sauce
  • Raspberry Vinaigrette
  • Raspberry Fool
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Raspberries
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Raspberries
  • Resources about Raspberries
  • Raspberry Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • 11 Ways to Use Raspberries That Will Make You Happy to Grow Them
  • Raspberries Rule! Gardening Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Raspberries

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