How to Grow Raspberries: A Complete Organic Growing Guide

Written by: Luke Marion

Published on March 15, 2023

Updated on March 13, 2026

You just cannot beat the flavor of fresh raspberries! They are delicious, nutritious fruits with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, and they are easy to grow in a backyard garden.

Bright red raspberries growing on a healthy plant.

It didn’t take long for us to decide that one bush growing on our property wasn’t enough. We wanted red raspberries, black raspberries, and peachy gold-colored raspberries to enjoy all season!

In this blog post, I will discuss the various aspects of how to grow raspberries, from properly amending the soil to planting practices to maintaining plant health and productivity.

Product Spotlight

Dormant Plants

Aside from selling seeds, we also have the privilege of selling dormant plants. Dormant plants are sold during the season when they are in a natural, temporary state of reduced metabolic activity.

It has been so fun and motivating to sell high-quality dormant plants at a low cost to people across the country! If you have received a dormant plant from MIgardener, or any other source, but are unsure of what to do with it, these growing guides were created to help you achieve success:

Varieties of Raspberries

A handful of ripe, plump, gold raspberries.

Even if you are a raspberry connoisseur, you may not know that there are dozens of different raspberry varieties out there, including spring, summer, and fall raspberries.

There are thorned and thornless. And, the different varieties will ripen at different times during the season, offering varying flavors and antioxidants.

When selecting a variety, consider your region's climate, available space, and your personal preferences. Popular varieties include:

Heritage Raspberry - This everbearing raspberry produces in summer and fall, up until the first frost. They produce giant berries with a longer shelf life than other varieties.
Royalty Purple Raspberry - These raspberries are a deep purple because they are the product of cross-breeding the abundant wild black cap variety with Latham. They are highly productive and produce in early summer and fall.
Prelude Raspberry - One of the earliest producing raspberries known! Fruits are of average size, and plants may also produce a fall harvest if the season allows.
Double Gold Raspberry - The production is by far the standout feature of this raspberry. Producing a small flush in early summer and a larger flush of fruit in late summer to early fall, this raspberry produces loads of deep golden yellow fruit that are as sweet as sunshine.

Many gardeners think that they need multiple varieties to set fruit, but this is untrue. Raspberries are self-fruitful, meaning just one will set fruit. However, if you have more than one plant, the odds of setting fruit are increased.

Preparing Soil For Planting Raspberries

Regardless of whether you are planting bare root plants or potted canes, the soil requirements will be the same. Raspberries prefer well-draining, fertile soil with a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5.

Before planting, test your soil pH with the Rapitest Soil pH Meter, as raspberries are particular about soil pH. If the pH is above 6.5, you will need to amend it with granulated sulfur and continue to amend it annually throughout your plant’s lifespan.

It is also essential to remove any weeds or grass from the planting site and loosen the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches. Then, amending the soil with 2-5% finished compost to improve fertility and structure before planting.

Fertilizing Raspberry Plants

Fertilizing perennial plants is very important. Fertilize raspberries at planting and in the early spring each year. We feed our raspberry plants with Trifecta+, but you can also use blood meal because it is a great source of nitrogen.

You do not fertilize bare root plants any differently than nursery potted canes; you will fertilize them exactly the same. You’ll hear people say that bare root plants need lots of phosphorus at planting, but that is baloney!

Nitrogen always has to come first! Dormant plants have no concern about growing the root system because there are no leaves, and no leaves means no energy produced through photosynthesis. Give them a high-nitrogen fertilizer to help pull them out of dormancy.

What To Do With Bare Root Plants

Dormant plants are commonly shipped “bare root”, which means the plant has been pulled out of the ground during dormancy, and the soil has been washed off the roots. This is done because soil is heavy, increasing the plant's weight and thereby increasing shipping costs. It is also done to prevent the spread of invasive plants and soil-borne diseases.

Don’t panic if your dormant plants look dead when you receive them. They’re not dead; they’re just dormant. One way to tell if a raspberry plant is dead or just dormant is by clipping the tip off the end of a cane and looking at it. If the plant tissue is still alive, the tip will show some light green in it.

When you receive a bare root raspberry plant, plan to plant it as soon as possible! Until you are ready to plant, store it in a cool, dark location with temperatures above freezing.

On the day you are ready to plant, take it out of the packaging and soak the roots in moderately warm water (around 65°F) for about 2 hours, but no longer. The roots will absorb moisture while they soak, and that moisture will be critical to helping the plant break dormancy.

It is imperative that you plant it within hours of soaking it! You do not want to let the roots dry out again.

How to Grow Raspberries

The best time to plant raspberries is during their dormancy. Raspberries can be planted in the early spring or fall, depending on the variety and the climate.

Most often, they are planted in early spring, after the last hard frost has passed, when the soil is thawed and workable but not yet warm.

Sunny Location - Pick a sunny spot with good drainage for planting your raspberries. Raspberries enjoy filtered full sun. I like to give them 4 ½ to 5 ½ hours of full sun and filtered sun the rest of the day, if possible. Permaculturists sometimes plant them below or near fruit trees to provide the filtered full sun they like, and to act as ground cover.
Plant Spacing - Plan to space the plants 2-3 feet apart in rows that are 6 feet apart.
Amend Soil - To prep your planting site, remove weeds and grass, then loosen the soil to a depth of about 8 inches. Remember to amend your soil to adjust the pH as needed! Add your other soil amendments, such as compost and fertilizer before planting, and gently mix them into the loose soil.
Planting Depth - Potted raspberry plants should be planted at the same depth they were in their containers. For bare root plants, always plant them at the same depth as the soil line on the cane. The crown should be about 2 inches below the surface.
Plant - Dig a hole and plant raspberry canes in a shallow crater of soil that is about an inch lower than the surrounding soil level. Water will naturally flow into this slight indentation, keeping the soil more moist and reducing the need to water as often in the hot season.
Water - Water your raspberries thoroughly after planting. Continue to water them deeply twice a week, or more depending on weather conditions. You should provide 1 to 2 inches of water each week. Watering is extremely important when growing soft-bodied fruits because they are very prone to drying out. Pro-Tip: The ideal way to water raspberries is at the base of the plants with drip irrigation. Avoid watering the leaves, as this can promote fungal diseases. Watering the fruit can also cause mold to develop on the raspberry's soft flesh.
Mulch - Raspberries will benefit from a layer of wood mulch to keep the soil moist around their shallow roots.

Raspberries can be planted in containers, too! For best results, use a container that is at least 10 gallons. Planting in fabric grow bags is the best option, in my opinion.

How to Harvest Raspberries

Black raspberries at varied stages of ripeness.

It’s time to harvest raspberries when they are deeply colored, plump, and soft. Once the berries start to ripen, I like to pick all the ripe berries off the plant regularly, about three times a week.

Gently grasp each berry and pull it off the stem; they should come off very easily when ripe. Put the delicate berries in shallow containers so that the bottom layer of berries doesn’t get crushed.

Don’t let your berry bucket or picked berries sit in the sun, but put them in a shady, cool spot immediately after picking them. Take them inside and let them cool to room temperature before putting the dry berries in the refrigerator in a covered container. I recommend waiting to wash them until you are ready to eat them.

Pests & Diseases

Raspberries are susceptible to various pests and diseases, including aphids, spider mites, raspberry crown borers (pictured above), and root rot. To control pests, use insecticidal soap or neem oil, and remove any infested leaves or canes.

To prevent disease, avoid overhead watering and maintain good air circulation by regularly pruning and thinning plants.

How to Prune Raspberry Bushes & Blackberry Bushes

Raspberries require some training and pruning to maintain their health and productivity. Raspberry plants should be trained to grow on a support system to keep them upright and pruned to maximize fruit production.

Whether you have primocane or florocane plants makes a huge difference in how you prune them. Use this guide to learn how to prune blackberries and raspberries properly (and how to tell which kind you have)!

Bonus: When you prune your raspberries, watch the video below to learn my trick to get unlimited amounts of raspberry plants for free.

Are raspberries difficult to grow?

Raspberries are considered easy to grow and can be a good choice for a beginning gardeners who wants to grow fruit.

Do raspberries grow better in pots or in the ground?

Raspberries are easier to grow in the ground, but you can definitely plant them in containers, too! For best results, use a container that is at least 10 gallons.