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Hi, we have some lovely wild raspberries growing nearby and I thought I might try growing some from seed. Found this advice on the net, is that similar to what anyone esle would do? Wondered if better just saving the seeds and growing at beginning of year.
Raspberries-growing them from seed
Raspberries are not difficult to grow from seed. I am not recommending this as the normal way of starting a raspberry bed, but some years ago I bought a punnet of yellow raspberries and was struck by the excellent flavour, so used the following method:
Choose a good, ripe fruit or two; place in a sieve and rub off the pulp, keeping the seeds; wash them thoroughly so that all trace of pulp is removed. This needs doing about August / Sept.
Put the wet seeds on a paper towel in the sunshine to dry.
Place some seed compost in a small pot; add the seeds; cover with about an inch of compost, firm it down well, and then place in a cool room where it won't get any sunlight. Ensure that the pot is kept slightly damp but not too wet, otherwise the seeds will rot.
About December, a few seedlings should have appeared; they may keep appearing through the winter. When big enough to handle - say 2 to 3 inches high, carefully separate and put in small pots. When big enough to fend for themselves outside, put them in a cold frame first and then in the garden. Label them well.
My bed of yellow raspberries (about 7 or 8 strong plants) has come from just two seedlings in about 5-6 years. They fruit sparsely in July on old wood, then send up new canes which fruit profusely from late August until the frosts come in October.
Raspberries-growing them from seed
Raspberries are not difficult to grow from seed. I am not recommending this as the normal way of starting a raspberry bed, but some years ago I bought a punnet of yellow raspberries and was struck by the excellent flavour, so used the following method:
Choose a good, ripe fruit or two; place in a sieve and rub off the pulp, keeping the seeds; wash them thoroughly so that all trace of pulp is removed. This needs doing about August / Sept.
Put the wet seeds on a paper towel in the sunshine to dry.
Place some seed compost in a small pot; add the seeds; cover with about an inch of compost, firm it down well, and then place in a cool room where it won't get any sunlight. Ensure that the pot is kept slightly damp but not too wet, otherwise the seeds will rot.
About December, a few seedlings should have appeared; they may keep appearing through the winter. When big enough to handle - say 2 to 3 inches high, carefully separate and put in small pots. When big enough to fend for themselves outside, put them in a cold frame first and then in the garden. Label them well.
My bed of yellow raspberries (about 7 or 8 strong plants) has come from just two seedlings in about 5-6 years. They fruit sparsely in July on old wood, then send up new canes which fruit profusely from late August until the frosts come in October.
