Nothing can compare to the bright, tangy taste of fresh sun-ripened raspberries. Did you know that there are over 200 distinct raspberry varieties? In this post, you’ll learn about some of the best raspberry cultivars for growing in your home garden.
Different kinds of raspberries vary in taste, color, growth habits, and harvest time. Prior to shopping for raspberry plants at your local plant nursery, knowing which types will grow best in your climate is beneficial.
A few crucial considerations include your USDA planting zone, how much space you have available for your raspberry patch, and your intended culinary uses. Do you prefer the classic red raspberries, or would you rather grow black, purple, or yellow raspberries?
With so many options available, selecting which types of raspberries to plant may feel overwhelming at first. Keep reading to learn all about the distinctions between some of the most common raspberry varieties and how to find the ones that best suit your needs.
Best Raspberry Varieties for Home Gardeners
Raspberry plants are members of the Rosaceae or rose family. These perennial plants flourish in cool, moist climates. Raspberries tend to grow best in USDA planting zones 3-9.
Raspberries prefer consistently moist soil that’s rich in organic matter. Although they grow best in full sun, raspberries also tolerate partial shade. In warmer climates, it’s beneficial to give them protection from intense afternoon sunlight.
Over time, mature raspberry brambles often spread out and can be tricky to manage without regular pruning. To avoid this problem, train the long vines to grow up a trellis.
Red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are usually the most well-known and originated in Europe and northern Asia. Black raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) grow throughout North America. Yellow raspberries (Rubus ellipticus) are native to southern Asia.
It’s essential to understand the difference between summer-bearing and everbearing raspberry types when choosing which varieties to plant. In addition to bearing fruit at contrasting times of the growing season, they also require different pruning methods.
Everbearing Raspberry Types
Everbearing raspberries, also called primocanes, grow fruit on first-year canes in late summer and early autumn. They produce new canes each year. Therefore, prune primocane raspberries to ground level in late winter or early spring while the root system is dormant.
These varieties tend to yield more fruit than summer-bearing raspberries. Most everbearing cultivars are red, but there are also a few yellow and black primocane raspberries.
Amity raspberries yield large, dark red berries twice each growing season, in mid-summer and early autumn. They’re suitable for USDA zones 3-8.
Autumn Bliss is an excellent choice for warm climates and grows best in USDA zones 6-8. Gardeners in zones 9-10 can also plant them as a summer annual to enjoy a fall crop of large, juicy red berries. This cultivar tends to send out fewer root suckers than many others and is resistant to root rot.
Caroline raspberries are delicious for eating fresh or making your favorite baked goods, preserves, and sauces. The plants yield bright red berries from late summer through the first frost. They are resistant to fungal diseases like gray mold and root rot, and flourish in USDA zones 4-9.
Summer-Bearing Raspberry Varieties
Summer-bearing or floricane raspberry plants are biennial, meaning they develop berries on second-year canes. During their first growing season, the canes are purely vegetative. Prune all of the fruiting canes off your summer-bearing raspberries in late fall or early winter to encourage vigorous new growth next spring.
Floricanes begin fruiting earlier than primocane raspberries, typically in June or July. Their fruit-bearing canes look woody and brown, while the new growth appears supple and green.
Boyne is an especially cold-hardy red raspberry cultivar. The fruit begins ripening in early summer, and the plants produce reliably high yields of deliciously sweet berries. They’re also exceptionally disease resistant and have a relatively compact growth habit. They grow best in USDA zones 3-7.
Red Latham raspberry plants are dependably cold-tolerant and disease-resistant. The wonderfully sweet berries ripen in mid-summer and are perfect for eating fresh or incorporating into your favorite recipes. This cultivar is best suited for USDA zones 3-8.
Thornless Types of Raspberries
One of the less-than-pleasant parts of collecting all those tasty raspberries is trying to avoid the sharp thorns. Some people prefer growing thornless raspberry varieties to make harvesting and pruning easier.
Canby is a fantastic thornless raspberry variety that produces large red raspberries without the prickly canes. This summer-bearing raspberry cultivar begins fruiting in June, and the berries have a delightfully sweet, tangy flavor. The plants thrive in USDA zones 3-8.
Black Raspberries
Black raspberries are usually sweeter and contain more antioxidants than red ones. They can sometimes be challenging to find at grocery stores and farmer’s markets, making growing them in your garden at home a real treat.
Bristol black raspberries have a heavenly flavor and grow on the vines in large, easy-to-pick clusters. This summer-bearing variety starts producing fruit in mid-summer. The plants are resistant to powdery mildew and are suitable for USDA zones 4-8.
Brandywine is a hybrid cross between black and red raspberries, making it one of the few true purple raspberry cultivars. These extra-large, tangy berries usually ripen from July to early September. This everbearing raspberry variety grows best in USDA zones 4-8.
Jewel is a superb black raspberry cultivar that rewards your efforts with a prolific harvest of large, richly-flavored berries that ripen from red to black in early to mid-summer. These everbearing plants are highly disease-resistant and perform well in USDA zones 5-8.
Yellow Raspberry Varieties
With a mildly sweet flavor, yellow raspberries are less common than their black or red counterparts. Also known as golden raspberries or Himalayan raspberries, the fruits vary in color from pale yellow to a deep orange-gold.
Fall Gold is one of the most prevalent types of everbearing yellow raspberries. The large, juicy berries are a lovely golden apricot color and are ready to pick from late summer through autumn. Unlike other primocanes, these plants will also produce a second, smaller berry crop in early summer during their second year. Prune them like floricanes if desired. The plants are best suited for USDA zones 4-8.
Tips and Tricks for Growing the Best Raspberries
Once raspberry plants become established, they’re remarkably easy to care for. One of the most important aspects of raspberry care is pruning. It isn’t necessary during the first year, but yearly pruning is essential after that.
For summer-bearing or floricane raspberries, remove any weak-looking canes in early spring. Leave at least ten healthy stalks spaced approximately six inches apart. Once the plants finish fruiting in late summer or autumn, prune all of the fruit-bearing canes to ground level to encourage healthy new growth.
Prune your everbearing (primocane) raspberries using a slightly different approach. Once they’re about two feet tall, trim about three or four inches off the top of the emerging canes. Doing so encourages more lateral branching. When the root system is dormant in late winter or early spring, prune all of the canes to the ground. For more pruning tips, check out this article from Fruit Growers News.
Although raspberries require consistently moist soil, it’s crucial not to overwater. Make sure your garden soil is well-draining, and don’t let the ground stay soggy. It’s best to allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before rewatering. Oversaturated soil increases the risk of fungal diseases like root rot and powdery mildew.
Raspberry plants are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilizing each year. For the best possible results, apply an organic, all-purpose granular fertilizer twice yearly in the spring and fall.
Growing raspberries in your garden at home is a worthwhile endeavor, and your efforts will be rewarded with delicious fruit for many years to come. Whether you plant seeds, transplant container-grown plants from your local nursery, or start bare-root specimens, it’s crucial to understand the differences between the different types of raspberries. That way, you’ll be able to confidently select cultivars that will grow best in your particular region.
Do you have any questions or recommendations about the various kinds of raspberries? Please share them in the comments! If you enjoyed this guide to common raspberry varieties, please consider sharing this post about the best types of raspberries with your fellow gardeners.
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