Heritage Raspberry for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on March 30, 2022

Planting instructions

Ample sunlight is the first requirement when selecting a location to plant a Heritage raspberry plant. The area in which one of these plants grows should be rich in organic matter. The soil should also be slightly acidic and retain enough moisture while allowing excess water to drain. Since the goal of growing Heritage raspberry plants is to yield a harvest, many gardeners plant this species in a row. If you choose that planting style, be sure to space each of your Heritage raspberry plants at least 3 feet from one another.

Watering and nutrients

Providing the correct quantity of water for a Heritage raspberry plant can be a delicate balance. On the one hand, this plant needs to have consistent moisture at all times. However, it will not respond well when it sits in stagnant water and becomes waterlogged. Generally, watering two to three times per week is ideal for a young plant. You can reduce waterings as needed once the plant has become established. For the best results, you should fertilize heritage raspberry with a balanced fertilizer twice per year, once in early spring and once in late spring.

Pollination

Typically, pollination for these plants takes place without any added effort on your part. Heritage raspberry plants are self-pollinating, meaning that a single plant can pollinate its own flowers and bear fruit without the help of an additional plant. These plants typically bloom between April and May, with pink flowers that attract insects such as bees. These pollinator insects will have an easy time spreading pollen from one flower to another, allowing the plant to develop the tasty fruit for which it is so well-known.

Pruning

There are multiple times during the year in which you can prune a Heritage raspberry plant. The first occurs in early spring. During that season, you can remove any part of the plant that is damaged, dead, or diseased. If you prune at this time, do so while the plant is still dormant. You can also remove older wood after the year’s harvest. This style of pruning will encourage new growth and berry production in the years to come. When pruning, remove entire canes from the plant, rather than simply shortening them.

Pest, diseases, and animals

Heritage raspberry plants are most vulnerable to fungal infections. While these infections are more common in wild raspberry species, they can appear in cultivated varieties as well. Fungal infections are easiest to recognize on new growth. When new sprouts emerge in spring, check them for signs of disease. The most common diseases a Heritage raspberry plant may experience are anthracnose, cane blight, and spur blight. When you notice these problems, you should remove the affected canes. Promoting adequate air circulation will help prevent these issues.

Harvesting

One of the major benefits of planting a Heritage raspberry plant is that it can produce multiple harvests in a single year. The first main harvest occurs in the middle of summer. The second harvest is often larger, beginning in late summer and lasting until the fall. Before removing a raspberry from one of these plants, ensure that it is fully red, which indicates that it is ripe and ready for picking. Raspberries do not ripen off the plant, so be sure not to harvest them too early.

Achieving maximum results

While a Heritage raspberry plant may survive in partial shade, full sun makes for the best harvest. These plants also do best in soil that is slightly acidic. A pH just above 6 but below 7 is often best. You can also alter the fruit production of your Heritage raspberry plant. While these plants usually produce two harvests, you can encourage yours to produce a single larger harvest. The way to do this is to prune your plant to the ground in early spring.

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