Raspberries at a Glance
Growing raspberries that ripen at different times is an easy way to stretch your raspberry season.
October/November 2012
By Barbara Pleasant
The chart below offers tips for growing each type of raspberry, plus a list of the raspberry varieties we recommend. Learn more about organic raspberry cultivation in All About Growing Raspberries.
| Type | Description | Recommended Varieties |
| Summer red raspberries Rubus idaeus |
Canes that grow one year (floricanes) bear heavy crops the following summer. The best type for freezing or canning, summer reds can be grown on a modest trellis. |
‘Boyne’ ‘Latham’ ‘Nova’ ‘Taylor’ |
| Everbearing red raspberries R. idaeus |
New canes that grow in spring (primocanes) bear good crops in late summer and fall. Bud-bearing branches that survive winter produce berries in spring. Require little or no trellising. Can be grown in extreme climates. |
‘Autumn Bliss’ ‘Heritage’ ‘Polana’ ‘Caroline’ |
| Black raspberries R. occidentalis |
One-year-old canes produce heavy crops in their second summer. Not as productive as summer reds, but more flavorful and nutritious. Wild plants respond well to cultivation. |
‘Blackhawk’ ‘Haut’ ‘Jewel’ ‘Mac Black’ ‘Munger’ |
| Golden raspberries R. idaeus |
Sweet flavor and excellent bird resistance have made golden raspberries popular companions for everbearing reds. Best grown as primocanes with emphasis on the fall crop. |
‘Anne’ ‘Fall Gold’ ‘Honey Queen’ |
| Purple raspberries R. spp. |
Cross between red and black raspberries. Fruits ripen in early summer — after black raspberries — with heavy crops of dark, juicy berries possible. Prune and propagate like black raspberries. |
‘Brandywine’ ‘Estate’ ‘Royalty’ |
Find raspberry bushes for your garden with the help of our Seed and Plant Finder. The Finder lets you efficiently search through the offerings of hundreds of mail-order seed and plant catalogs.
Contributing editor Barbara Pleasant gardens in southwest Virginia, where she grows vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and a few lucky chickens. Contact Barbara by visiting her website or finding her on Google+.
