First comes strawberries, then comes raspberries. Raspberries ripen just as the first crop of strawberries finish, and this easy to grow plant can be found growing from the equator to the arctic. They are rich in antioxidants, and vitamin C, low in calories and have no fat, sodium or cholesterol making them a healthy and tasty food choice.

Raspberries can be grown very successfully in the Prince George area if given the right conditions and planting the right varieties for our zone 3 climate.

 

Always plant good quality certified, disease free plants as you only get out of a plant what is put into it. Next, choose a sunny site where the soil is high in organic matter such as peat moss or aged manure, it must be well drained, and slightly acidic with a pH of 5.8-6.5. It also a good idea to remove all the weeds first before planting.

 

Plant raspberries in rows 3-4 meters apart with the plants spaced 60-100 cm apart. When planting the canes keep the roots moist as they dry out very quickly so keep them wrapped in burlap if they are not being planted immediately. Plant them at the same depth or slightly deeper than they originally were planted and water them in as soon as they have been planted.

 

To promote early root development and encourage good cane growth cut the canes back to 13-15 cm. Keep the soil evenly moist until the plants become established. Supports can be made by placing poles down the middle of the row and running a wire on either side of it to help keep canes in place and help prevent fruit from touching the ground.

 

To keep plants healthy cultivate the soil to keep down weeds, improve soil aeration and control the width of the row. You don't want the rows to become too wide as this will make it hard to pick the fruit and will reduce air circulation around the plants. From when the plants are in blossom till the berries are harvested is a critical time to keep up on the water Insufficient soil moisture will reduce the fruit yield and because raspberries have a shallow root system it is important to give the plants 2-3 cm of water per week during the ripening time if there is not enough rain. On the other hand you do not want the soil to become waterlogged as raspberry roots will rot which could result in the plant dying.

 

By the third year of planting the plants will produce a good crop. Raspberries have a perennial root system and biennial canes. In the first year the new shoots come up and complete their physical growth, then go dormant through the winter and next summer will bear fruit.

 

The fruits are ready to be picked when they have reached their size, have good colour and come off the receptacle easily. The receptacle is left on the plant which is why the fruit has a hole in it. The old fruit bearing canes are left over winter to give the plant extra winter protection and next spring are removed at ground level along with any other canes that are dead, weak, or spindly.

 

If the fruit bearing canes are diseased they should be removed immediately after the fruit has been picked to prevent the disease from getting any further.

 

Raspberry Varieties for the Prince George area are as follows;

 

Autumn Bliss- An ever bearing variety. The large dark red fruit has a oval conical shape and is very flavorful. It produces most of the crop in the first two weeks of harvest and is 10 days earlier than the Heritage variety. Canes are medium height and have few spines.

 

Tulameen- Originated in B.C. The very large fruit is firm with a thick flesh, and a glossy red colour and is of high quality. This variety provides a long lasting late season crop.

 

Qualicum-Large fruit is medium red in colour firm, and has good flavor. It is a mid season crop with a long lasting harvest season up to 6 weeks. It is self fertile and produces on 2^nd year growth.

 

Boyne- Originated from Manitoba in 1960. Fruit is dark, slightly soft with a soft skin and has a good flavor ideal for canning and freezing. It is a early season variety and very productive. Canes re tall and spiny and the plant produces lots of suckers.

 

Heritage- The fruit has bright colour and flavor, is firm and is ideal for freezing. This late season ever bearing variety produces large yields with a smaller summer crop and a larger fall crop. Canes are tall, rugged with prominent thorn.