How to grow raspberry — planting, spacing, pests & companions

Moisture range

45–65%

Days to maturity

365–548

Light

Full sun

Growing Degree Units

1200 · base 50°F

When to plant raspberry in your zone

Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates calibrated to your climate.

See planting calendar →

Growing notes

Raspberry plants have perennial roots and crowns, but their canes live for only two summers; they require annual pruning to keep plants productive and reduce disease, and need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week from flowering until harvest.

Harvest signs

Raspberries are ready to pick when their color is fully developed and the fruit is plump and tender; another indicator is when the fruit comes off the plant easily when gently pulled

▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, light

Depth

Crown of the plant 1 or 2 inches above the ground

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Spacing

Red and yellow raspberries: 2 to 3 feet apart (or 18 to 24 inches apart per trellis guide); Black and purple raspberries: 4 feet apart

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Light

Full sun (6+ hr direct)

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▶Pests & diseases— spotted wing drosophila, sap beetles, multicolored asian lady beetle, corn rootworm, +10 more

Common pests · 11

Spotted Wing Drosophila: Invasive fruit flies lay eggs in ripening and ripe fruit, leading to mushy berries ↗

Sap Beetles: Small beetles attracted to the smell of overripe fruit ↗

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle: Found feeding on fruit; beetles have few or many spots with a black 'M' shape on the white band between head and body (Fall, especially near soybean fields) ↗

Corn Rootworm: Slender beetles (quarter inch, yellow to tan to green) burrow into underripe and fully ripe fruit, destroying berries; often found feeding in groups (Late summer) ↗

Yellowjackets: Wasps with yellow and black stripes attracted to overripe fruit (Fall) ↗

Japanese Beetles: Gleaming bronze and bright green beetles feeding and congregating on foliage (Mid-summer (June through August)) ↗

Flat-headed Cane Borers (red-necked cane borer, bronze cane borer): Scarring on raspberry canes, tip dieback, and cane death; adults are small, metallic, and slender; larvae feed inside canes causing galls and dead canes ↗

Spider Mites: Underside of leaves takes on a bronze color (Hot weather (June through August)) ↗

Tarnished Plant Bug: Misshapen, crumbling fruit ↗

Potato Leafhopper: Curling, yellowing, and stunting of younger leaves; adults are elongated, small (1/8 inch), and wedge-shaped (Hot, dry weather) ↗

Rabbits: Canes eaten down to the ground or snow line (Winter) ↗

Common diseases · 3

Cane Blight: Disease lesions near the base of the cane cut off water and nutrient transport, causing cane dieback ↗

Gray Mold: Raspberry fruit rots and becomes moldy while still on the plants; in ripe fruit may not appear until after picking and spreads quickly in a container ↗

Phytophthora Crown and Root Rot: Canes die back due to infection at the crown or base; brown discoloration on the outside and inside of the crown; thrives in wet soils ↗

Companions & antagonists

Keep apart from:Blackberry

Tip: Zone 5b hardy. Prune canes after fruiting.

Common questions

How much water does raspberry need?

Raspberry is water-sensitive — shallow roots and a steady thirst. Keep soil moisture in roughly the 45–65% range and don't let it dry out fully, or growth stalls and leafy crops turn bitter.

Can I grow raspberry in a raised bed or container?

Raspberry is a perennial that stays put for years, so give it a permanent in-ground spot or a large, deep container it can live in long-term.

Does raspberry come back every year?

Yes — raspberry is a perennial. Plant it once and it comes back each year, so pick a spot it can keep for several seasons.