Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
A fruit, planted November to March.
In September: cut out the fruited raspberry canes and tie in the new ones (summer-fruiting plants only) and pick the crop. You may want gloves to prune it: the stems are often prickly.
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Raspberry, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown raspberry. | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Plant a bare-root raspberry. | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Cut all the raspberry canes to the ground (autumn-fruiting plants only). | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Prune the raspberry for two crops. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | usual | usual |
| Pick the raspberries. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Cut out the fruited raspberry canes and tie in the new ones (summer-fruiting plants only). | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
You may want gloves to prune it: the stems are often prickly.
Weaker source: Gardening Etc.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown raspberry November to March, 40 to 60cm apart, rows 1.5 to 2m apart. Strong source: RHS.
Plant a bare-root raspberry November to March, 5cm deep, 40 to 60cm apart, rows 1.5 to 2m apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Cut all the raspberry canes to the ground
Gardeners call this autumn-fruiting raspberry: cut all canes to the ground.
For autumn-fruiting plants only.
New canes come up in late winter and early spring and fruit later that year.
Usually February. Strong source: RHS.
Prune the raspberry for two crops
Gardeners call this autumn raspberry double cropping.
Keep six to eight strong canes per metre of row, cutting off only their fruited tops.
Usually February, and July to August. Strong source: RHS.
Pick the raspberries
Usually June to October. Strong source: RHS.
Cut out the fruited raspberry canes and tie in the new ones
Gardeners call this summer-fruiting raspberry: remove fruited canes and tie in replacements.
For summer-fruiting plants only.
Keep six to eight of the strongest new canes per plant, tied to the wires about 10cm apart.
Usually August to September. Strong sources: RHS and Pomona Fruits.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Weaker: a blog, a forum, a small website or a page from outside the UK. Treat it as a guide.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Raspberry” comes from.