Hi,
I am planning to plant raspberries in my garden for the first time soon. A suitable spot would be about 80cm x 120cm (31 inches x 47 inches). I think I can plant three, maybe four plants in this area. I am leaning towards autumn-bearing raspberries because they seem to be less susceptible to diseases and insect infestations (especially maggot eggs).
According to my research, the main issue with raspberries in home gardens is the spreading rhizomes (root runners). This causes raspberries to spread almost like weeds in the garden. If you plant them in a container (for example, a 90-liter (24-gallon) mixing bucket or a terracotta pot on the patio), the yield is reportedly much lower—unless you use specific varieties bred for balcony growing, of course.
I am now considering creating a small mound bed or earth berm to avoid installing a rhizome barrier. Raspberries have shallow roots, so the rhizomes usually spread only about 40–50cm (16–20 inches) deep.
My question is: What experiences have you had with raspberries or your raspberry patch? Did you install a rhizome or root barrier, or did you skip it? Would you do it the same way again?
I am planning to plant raspberries in my garden for the first time soon. A suitable spot would be about 80cm x 120cm (31 inches x 47 inches). I think I can plant three, maybe four plants in this area. I am leaning towards autumn-bearing raspberries because they seem to be less susceptible to diseases and insect infestations (especially maggot eggs).
According to my research, the main issue with raspberries in home gardens is the spreading rhizomes (root runners). This causes raspberries to spread almost like weeds in the garden. If you plant them in a container (for example, a 90-liter (24-gallon) mixing bucket or a terracotta pot on the patio), the yield is reportedly much lower—unless you use specific varieties bred for balcony growing, of course.
I am now considering creating a small mound bed or earth berm to avoid installing a rhizome barrier. Raspberries have shallow roots, so the rhizomes usually spread only about 40–50cm (16–20 inches) deep.
My question is: What experiences have you had with raspberries or your raspberry patch? Did you install a rhizome or root barrier, or did you skip it? Would you do it the same way again?
We bought from Lubera back then; it bears fruit twice a year, so actually there are always a few. It is resistant and worm-free. We don’t have any root barriers and are currently enjoying that it spreads. If it gets too much, we just prune it.
No comparison to the blackberry, which actually spread another 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet), so we had to remove it.
No comparison to the blackberry, which actually spread another 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet), so we had to remove it.
Holzhäuschen27 Jul 2023 09:24I would also differentiate between blackberries and raspberries, as blackberries can actually become a problem if left unmanaged for a long time.
I had raspberries in my garden in Berlin, and they spread quite well when I was too ill to control them. However, the new gardener was able to remove or prune them without any issues. I would also transplant raspberries without a root barrier. A raised bed is a nice idea, but depending on its construction, water might always run off and cause the plants to dry out.
Raspberries are still on my list as well.
I had raspberries in my garden in Berlin, and they spread quite well when I was too ill to control them. However, the new gardener was able to remove or prune them without any issues. I would also transplant raspberries without a root barrier. A raised bed is a nice idea, but depending on its construction, water might always run off and cause the plants to dry out.
Raspberries are still on my list as well.
S
Schorsch_baut27 Jul 2023 09:42The newer varieties of cultivated blackberries are also quite manageable. Wild types or older cultivated varieties tend to spread aggressively. Our blackberry has a trellis, and that keeps it fairly well controlled.
The yield of autumn raspberries is mostly just enough for snacking, unless you plant several meters (yards).
The yield of autumn raspberries is mostly just enough for snacking, unless you plant several meters (yards).
M
MaxMustaman9227 Jul 2023 19:19First of all, thanks for your opinions and experiences.
We (two adults) really love eating raspberries. I’m not exactly sure how many plants we should grow for a sufficient harvest. That probably also depends on the varieties. But would you say that two raspberry plants should be enough? Otherwise, I would just plant around four.
I think I will need some kind of root barrier or similar if I want to plant the raspberries near the neighbor’s property line. The alternative would be somewhere in the middle of the lawn. That would probably be convenient since you can simply mow over the rhizomes, but it might not look as nice after a few years.
Best regards
We (two adults) really love eating raspberries. I’m not exactly sure how many plants we should grow for a sufficient harvest. That probably also depends on the varieties. But would you say that two raspberry plants should be enough? Otherwise, I would just plant around four.
I think I will need some kind of root barrier or similar if I want to plant the raspberries near the neighbor’s property line. The alternative would be somewhere in the middle of the lawn. That would probably be convenient since you can simply mow over the rhizomes, but it might not look as nice after a few years.
Best regards