Tag Archives: Growing Raspberries

Oregon Native: American Red Raspberry

Posted on by

Plant Name: Rubus idaeus var. strigosis
Common name:  American Red Raspberry
Plant Type:  Semi-Evergreen Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 9’; Erect to Spreading
Plant Width:  3’ –  9’
Bloom Time:  April – May; Fruit Matures July to September.
Flower Color:  White to Greenish White
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade.
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained, Moist, Loamy Soil
Water Need:  Medium
Firewise: Resistant
Attributes: Provides Food & Shelter for Birds, Mammals; Pollinated by Bees & Birds; Attracts Butterflies; Showy Flower.
Uses:  Erosion Control; Rock Garden; Bird Gardens; Pollinator Garden; Screening.
Note:  Has Thorns; Prune Out Fruiting Canes for Summer & Everbearing Cultivars in Summer After Fruiting – Cut Back Tips of Everbearers that Fruited Last Fall but Leave Rest of Cane for Summer Fruiting – In Late Winter Remove Any Canes Damaged by Winter; Fungal Diseases May Cause Serious Problems that Necessitate Chemical Treatments; Cane & Crown Borers are Serious Pests.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone- 4-8

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo Credit: Superior National Forest, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Posted by: Carlotta Lucas

November 11th: Garden Chores

Posted on by
  • Garlic:  Weather permitting, you still have a week, or two, to plant garlic.
  • Mulch around berry plants.
  • Drain watering systems.
  • Disconnect hoses from hose bibs to prevent hose bib ends from freezing.
  • Insulate outside faucets, if they are not frost-proof hose bibs.
  • Drain and store portable sprinklers, hose-end timers and hose-end sprayers.
  • Rake and destroy fruit tree leaves and fallen fruit to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Spray dormant oil on fruit tress to control overwintering insects and fungus.
  • Spray lime-sulfur of grapes, anytime from now to February.
  •  It’s a good time to plant new trees, fruit trees and blueberries.
  • Prune raspberries to 1 foot above wire, attach canes to wires.
  • Harvest fall crops.
  • Clean tools.

The Art of Growing Berries

Posted on by

Keys to Thriving Berries!

Blueberries, Raspberries,  and Triple Crown Thornless Berry.

Soils do better if prepared early, it’s easier to supplement your soil in early spring.

BLUEBERRIES (a challenging plant)Blueberry

  • Needs Acidic soil: either naturally occurring, or supplemented with peat moss
    • Member Note: Alternatives products for unsustainable peat moss:
      • Coconut Coir. A by-product of the coconut industry.
      • Pine Sawdust or Bark
      • Composted Manure or Leaves
  • 2 or more plants of similar bloom time needed for pollination
  • Regular moisture
  • Don’t allow plants to dry out
  • Shallow roots appreciates mulching
  • Fertilized with acidic fertilizer start early in the season
    • Twice in spring, once again when blooming
  • Provide afternoon shade in the Summer
  • Prune out any non-budding branches, dead Wood or Crowded branches
  • Netting may be a good idea

RASPBERRIES

  • Don’t like wet feet, but needs moistureraspberry
  • Water twice a week, then move to three times a week when above 85F
  • Does better with drip watering, fruit can get moldy if too wet
  • Fertilizing: Start with a 10-10-10 to grow canes, then switch to 5-10-10 if plants are growing large. Note: Use less nitrogen for more fruit production.
  • Needs conscious pruning, fruit grows on 2 year growth, (floricanes) unless  developing a first and second year everbearing system.
    • Cut out old canes after 2-year fruit
    • For young producers, cut every year to allow sun to reach plants.
  • Needs 6-8 hours Sun
    • Member Note: Intense afternoon sun can wilt plants and burn fruit

TRIPLE CROWN THORNLESS BERRY (Blackberry/Marionberry Cross)Triple Crown Thornless Blackberry

  • Will grow in many places, like blackberries
  • Non-Invasive, semi-erect vines
  • Have a choice of cutting canes when they reach 7-8 feet, or letting them grow and propagating tips into ground or container
  • Needs a trellis system to keep vines and berries off the ground
  • Fertilize at blossom time,
  • Water more when fruiting
  • Pick when the large dark berries come off easily, large globules
  • Prune out second-year canes after they fruit
    • You can do this in the fall

By Joel Heller, Guest Speaker AGC Meeting March 6th, 2017