When to plant raspberries in Goldendale, WA

How raspberry canes work

Raspberry roots live for many years, but each cane lives only two. In its first year a cane (a primocane) grows leaves; in its second year (as a floricane) it fruits and then dies. Summer-bearing varieties like Meeker and Tulameen fruit only on second-year canes. Fall-bearing varieties like Heritage also fruit at the tips of first-year canes in late summer and fall.

That's the key to pruning. For summer-bearers, cut the canes that just fruited to the ground after harvest, and thin the new canes to the sturdiest ones, about 6 inches apart. For fall-bearers, the simplest method is to cut every cane to the ground in late winter for one large crop in late summer.

Drainage, and root rot

Phytophthora root rot is the most common reason raspberries die in the Northwest. This water mold thrives in soil that stays saturated, which describes much of the region in winter. Infected plants send up weak new canes that wilt and die, and the roots turn reddish-brown inside.

Plant in a raised row or bed at least 10 to 12 inches high, and never in a low spot where water collects. Variety matters too: Cascade Bounty and Cascade Delight are very resistant, while Meeker is moderately so. Avoid beds where tomatoes or potatoes grew recently, since they share Verticillium wilt.

Soil, water and feeding

Raspberries prefer a slightly acidic soil, with a pH of about 5.6 to 6.2, rich in organic matter. Give them an inch or two of water a week while fruit is forming, through drip lines or soaker hoses, so the canes and berries stay dry. Feed in early spring, when new growth starts.

Pests

Spotted wing drosophila, a small fruit fly, lays eggs in ripening raspberries, and fall-bearing crops are hit hardest. Pick every two days, collect any overripe fruit, and chill berries quickly. Root weevils and cane diseases also show up, but good airflow from thinning and trellising prevents most cane problems.

Harvest

A ripe raspberry pulls cleanly off its core with a gentle tug. Berries don't ripen after picking and are among the most perishable fruits, so pick into shallow containers, refrigerate right away and eat within two or three days, or freeze them on a tray.