Primocane Raspberry Award Winning Collection

Raspberries are one of the easiest and tastiest fruits to grow and harvest, offering wonderful crops over quite a long period. They are ideal for growing in the UK, being well suited to the weather conditions we experience. 

Types of Raspberries: 

Floricane varieties: These types of flowers and fruit on last year’s wood and should not be pruned. However, as they fruit on the lower part of the stems, any very long growth can be cut back to approx. 120-150cm (4-5ft) to keep the plant tidy and making picking easier. Do this pruning in early Spring.  Any stems that have fruited that year, can be cut down to the ground in early Spring and they will fruit in 2 summers time. These are also known as ‘Summer Fruiting’ varieties. 

Primocane varieties: These are more modern varieties and will fruit on this year’s wood. All fruiting stems can be cut down in early spring. This promotes the new growth which will flower and fruit that summer. These are also known as ‘Autumn Fruiting’ varieties.

How to prepare the soil for raspberries:

Raspberries like weed-free,fertile and well-drained soil that is not too soggy or chalky. While adding a thick layer of bulky compost to the soil prior to planting is recommended, don’t worry if you haven’t! Just before planting you can sprinkle some general-purpose fertiliser over the soil to give raspberries the best possible start.

Where to plant: 

Raspberries can grow in part shade, but we recommend choosing as sunnier a spot as possible to grow that is also sheltered from the wind. 

How to plant raspberries: 

Raspberry plants can be planted any time between November and March, commonly known as the bare root season, but importantly not when the soil is waterlogged or hardened by frost. 

Soak the bare root canes in a bucket of water to hydrate the roots while preparing the planting hole. 

Dig a trench about 3 inches (7.5cm) deep and 12 inches (30cm) wide. Make holes with a fork in the side of the trench to encourage root growth. 

Place the canes 1.5ft (45cm) apart in the trench, spreading out the roots before firming in the soil around them. Make sure the canes are sturdy and upright! 

We then recommend snipping back the cane to about 12 inches (30cm) above the soil. This helps promote vigorous growth and leaves a little later on. 

While raspberry plants are for the most part strong enough to support themselves while growing, there is no harm in building a frame to secure and help as they grow, ensuring they are in their best form come harvest time. Please visit our website for a whole range of accessories to help you get the most successful harvests, including frames, twine and harvesting tools. 

Bare Root Plants: Several of our plants come supplied as bare roots. Despite appearances, they are alive and well. They have been previously grown in the ground and lifted when dormant throughout the winter months, so that when you receive them, they are strong, full of energy and ready to be planted out. This is our most economical way to buy many plant varieties including roses, strawberries, trees and bushes.

Seedlings: Seedlings are young plants that have grown from seeds and are still small, usually with just a few leaves. They are in the early stages of growth and are ready to be potted on or planted outdoors to continue developing.

Plug Plants: A wide range of our varieties come in plug size, including Strawberries, Tomatoes, Chillis, Peppers, Cucumbers and Courgettes. Grown in individual cells with a bio-degradable membrane that will break down in the soil, no need to remove before planting. Pot and grow on to form larger plants that can be planted later in the season. Protect from frost if necessary.

9cm Plants: Our 9cm plants are larger and much more established than our plug ranges, meaning they are ready to plant out straight away. These will establish quickly and produce flower and fruit much quicker than smaller plugs. Protect from frost if required.

1L+ Plants: A substantial plant with many already developed flowers or even early onset of fruit if the season has been early. Great for filling in gaps or plating into patio containers.

Grafted Plants: Grafted plants are created by joining together two different plant varieties, typically by attaching the stem of one onto the root system of another. This process allows for desirable traits, such as disease resistance or better fruit production, to be combined into a single plant.

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