Raspberries are generous cane fruits for a sunny UK garden or allotment, producing soft berries that rarely travel well from shop to kitchen. A row trained between posts and wires is productive and tidy. Combine summer-fruiting and autumn-fruiting types to lengthen the season.

When and how to sow

Plant bare-root canes from November to March, avoiding frozen or waterlogged soil. Choose a sunny, sheltered site with moisture-retentive, slightly acidic soil and good drainage. Set canes 45 cm apart along posts and wires, then water in and mulch. Pot-grown plants may be planted in spring or autumn. Keep the row narrow so canes receive light and air.

Care

Mulch each spring with organic matter and water thoroughly in dry spells, especially when fruit is swelling. Tie new canes neatly to wires. After summer-fruiting varieties crop, cut their old canes at ground level. For autumn-fruiting raspberries, cut every cane to ground level in February for a straightforward late-season crop.

Common problems

Raspberry beetle grubs may be found within fruit, while cane diseases thrive in congested, damp growth. Remove spent or damaged canes promptly and avoid wetting foliage unnecessarily. Net the row against birds before berries colour. Start with healthy plants and remove persistently weak, distorted or diseased growth.

Harvest

Pick berries when fully coloured and they slip easily from the pale core, usually from June for summer varieties and August for autumn types. Harvest every two or three days, preferably when fruit is dry. Place berries in shallow containers, refrigerate promptly and eat, freeze or preserve them within a day or two.

Growing Raspberries: frequently asked questions

When should I sow raspberries in the UK?

Plant bare-root canes from November to March, avoiding frozen or waterlogged soil.

What are common problems when growing raspberries?

Raspberry beetle grubs may be found within fruit, while cane diseases thrive in congested, damp growth.

When is raspberries ready to harvest?

Pick berries when fully coloured and they slip easily from the pale core, usually from June for summer varieties and August for autumn types.

General guidance for UK home gardens and allotments. Reference figures are typical values; your exact timing depends on your region, last-frost date and variety. Page updated 20 Sep 2026.