The Ultimate Guide to Growing Delicious Raspberries in Your Garden

Imagine the taste of a juicy raspberry straight from your own garden, warm from the sun. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, growing raspberries in your backyard can be a rewarding experience. These versatile berries come in a variety of colors and flavors, making it easy to find the perfect cultivar for your garden.

Why Choose Raspberries?

Raspberries are a delightful addition to any garden. Not only do they produce delicious fruit, but they also add beauty with their vibrant foliage and delicate flowers. Plus, once established, raspberry plants can continue to produce fruit for up to 15 years or more. Whether you have limited space or a large garden, there’s a raspberry variety that’s perfect for you.

The Best Raspberry Varieties

Summer Bearing

Boyne (Zones 3-8)
Cascade Delight (Zones 6-9)
Killarney (Zones 4-7)
Raspberry Shortcake (Zones 5-8)
Royalty (Zones 4-7)

Everbearing

Anne (Zones 4-9)
Dorman Red (Zones 5-9)
Fall Gold (Zones 4-9)
Heritage (Zones 4-8)
Jewel (Zones 3-8)
Joan J (Zones 4-8)
Polka (Zones 4-8)
September (Zones 4-8)

Summer Bearing Varieties

Summer-bearing raspberries produce fruit once a year on two-year-old canes, typically in June or July. Here are some top picks for summer-bearing varieties:

1. Boyne

Bright red fruit with a sweet flavor
Cold hardy and disease resistant
Ready to harvest in early July

2. Cascade Delight

Large, bright red fruit with good flavor
Not cold hardy, but resistant to root rot
Ready to harvest in July

3. Killarney

Medium to dark red fruit with a sweet flavor
Cold tolerant and disease resistant
Pink blooms in spring

4. Raspberry Shortcake

Perfect for small spaces or containers
Dwarf raspberry with compact form
Thornless and self-pollinating

5. Royalty

Hybrid of black and red varieties
Large, delicious fruit
Hardy and disease resistant

Everbearing Varieties

Everbearing raspberries produce fruit on primocanes in the fall and may produce a second harvest the following summer. Here are some top picks for everbearing varieties:

6. Anne

Large golden-hued fruit with tropical flavor
Disease resistant and vigorous
Cold hardy and heat tolerant

7. Dorman Red

Sweet, red fruit in abundance
Thornless canes and high yields
Heat and humidity tolerant

8. Fall Gold

Sweet and tart, golden fruit
Compact growth and upright canes
Cold tolerant to -25°F

9. Heritage

Bright red fruit with mild flavor
Disease resistant and highly productive
Harvest in mid-July and early September

10. Jewel

Red fruit that darkens to black when ripe
Sweet flavor perfect for canning
Self-pollinating and cold hardy

11. Joan J

Thornless, everbearing variety
Small to medium, sweet fruit
Harvest in July, August, and September

12. Polka

Juicy and sweet fruit with mild flavor
Ripens early in the season
Cold hardy and self-pollinating

13. September

Upright growth habit with thorny canes
Sweet red or yellow berries
Cold hardy and grows in a variety of soil types

Get Growing!

Whether you choose a summer-bearing or everbearing variety, growing raspberries in your garden is a rewarding experience. From the joy of watching the plants grow to the satisfaction of harvesting your own delicious fruit, there’s something special about growing your own raspberries. So pick out your favorite varieties, plant them in the right conditions, and get ready to enjoy a bountiful harvest of sweet, juicy raspberries in your own backyard.