Rainline Garden

When to plant raspberries in Ellensburg, WA

Plant raspberry canes in Ellensburg Apr 15 – May 27.

Moderate Plant bare-root canes

Why these dates

Ellensburg's typical last spring frost is April 28. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 15.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
2 to 3 feet apart in rows
Planting depth
Roots covered by 2 to 3 inches of soil
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
Light crop in year two (fall-bearers can fruit the first fall)

Step by step

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant raspberry canes Apr 15 – May 27, 2 to 3 feet apart in rows. Roots covered by 2 to 3 inches of soil.
  3. Set up a simple trellis with posts and wire. After harvest, cut spent canes to the ground.
  4. Harvest: Pick when berries slip easily off the core. Check every two or three days in season.

Varieties that do well here

  • Meeker (a Northwest favorite)
  • Tulameen
  • Heritage (fall-bearing)
  • Cascade Delight

Watch out for

Root rot in soggy soil. Plant in a raised row or a bed that drains well.

Need well-drained soil; they die in soggy ground. A raised row helps in wet Northwest winters. West of the Cascades, fall planting works well too.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Ellensburg, WA?

Typically April 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 12. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Ellensburg Bowers Field.

Is it too late to plant raspberries in Ellensburg?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick raspberries?

Light crop in year two (fall-bearers can fruit the first fall). Pick when berries slip easily off the core. Check every two or three days in season.

Also plant in Ellensburg around the same time

Planting dates for raspberries in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Ellensburg · Raspberries in every city