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.
