Spacing for rows of raspberries

[Rob G]

The books say 6 feet. Do the rows really have to be that far apart ? I'm working out how to use a fruit cage I'll be building over the winter and a couple of rows of rasps are going to take more than their share of it based on that spacing.

Rob

[yoanbob]

I inherited my rasps approx 3 rows in no more then a foot wide, they are still producing more then we can pick!

[Rob G]

Thanks for answering. I take it that the 3 rows are all supported on the one wire frame ? Interesting that you are getting such a good crop as such a configuration would suggest significant overcrowding in the ground.

I don't have any difficulties with how much fruit is produced - we juiced all the blackcurrants this year and the juice is wonderful on yoghurt and I'm sure raspberry juice would be just as nice.

Rob

[yoanbob]

raspberry juice is the BEST! yes they are on the same wire (or rather random bits of plastic) and they are very over crouded going to move them next year, but they still produce more than we can pick, the "row" is about 12 foot though

[pigletwillie]

My 3 rows of autumn bliss and 1 of glen prosen are 4' apart and you can walk between even if its a touch tight. I personally would not go any closer.

I would save your fruit cage space for stuff the birds like, redcurrants and gooseberries come to mind. Some of my blueberries which are in the fruit cage are coming out and gooseberries are going in in their stead as the birdies eat any that are not netted.

[veg4681]

I would save your fruit cage space for stuff the birds like, redcurrants and gooseberries come to mind. Some of my blueberries which are in the fruit cage are coming out

So birds don't go for raspberry? I thought all berries needed to be protected from birds with something like having a fruit cage etc. although I wasn't going to bother initially. Also blueberry aren't so vulnerable from the birds then?

I haven't really noticed that the birds go for gooseberry, then again I don't really eat them and it's okay if other wildlife have them...same for rhubards. BTW my gooseberry are in a very sheltered position next to apple and plum trees.