Raspberries location

[MagpieKnitter]

Hi guys, I'm about to install my 1.2m x 3.6m beds and want some advice on how to plant my raspberries.

I have done a fair bit of reasearch on training, pruning and care, and I was originally going to go with 60cm wide beds, long v shape training (forgotten the right name sorry, post at either end with 2 cross pieces and wire running end to end) and 6 plants, but with the additional width of the beds that seems a lot of wasted space. so thinking 2 rows of 6, 60cm apart, even though i know most sources recommend up to 1.8m betwwen rows.

I've never grown fruit before, and it seems a good time to ask BEFORE I lay the beds and start planting. Is 2 rows in a 1.2m wide bed pushing it? if so, should i go for straight up training instead? Or should I just have 1 row as originally planned and a lot of straw mulch?

I'm afraid I don't have any pictures as the bed itself is presently in my flat being treated and as for variety - I did ask, but the old owner had no idea other than summer fruiting.

[Scarlet]

I'd go one row. If you do two rows, next year you won't be able to walk through the middle.
For my a summer rasps, I've got the posts youre describing. A post at each end with cross pieces. The raspberry hedge is nearly three foot wide now. They send out lots of new growth every year.

[Bigmallly]

Hi MK, I would put 2 rows in but stagger them so you have 2-3ft spacing but at a diagonal..........Sommat like this:

[veggiechicken]

I'm confused - as usual!
Are you thinking of 2 rows with 2 lots of wire? Or 2 rows planted either side of 1 wire?

Personally, I'd have 1 row as they spread and will merge with each other anyway. Easier to pick and prune if its one row.

[Scarlet]

Photo of mine..the "bed" isn't edged. Planted in a single row they soon spread out.

[Greenleaves]

I would also stick with a single row, easier to pick and manage going forward

[TrysHard]

I have one row in a 90cm bed the plants spread, mine are autumn fruiting as they are easier to manage

[MagpieKnitter]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone. Think I shall go with the one wide row.

I only have a third of a plot, thats all we are allowed in my area of Exeter, so will be able to devote a lot of time to care and control, plus I'm lining the sides of the bed 1m below the soil level before adding the bed on top, so with any luck they 'should' stay reasonably under control with some strict management.

My plot is presently half raspberries. One big long 3-4m wide band, they got like this after only 1 years neglect I'm told, they were beautiful maintained before that (hmmm?).








Oh and BM, just for you ....

[burnie]

I had a double row in that space and found no problems picking or pruning to honest. Dug them up when I built my raised beds, so will be making a new bed when I can find some space for them.

[MagpieKnitter]

oops

I meant just for you VC...

[veggiechicken]

Love your plot - looks like my garden! Fruit bushes roaming everywhere!
Raspberries do take over very quickly and spring up yards away from where they were planted, usually to the south. They seem to follow the sun. If you want to keep them in the bed, plant on the north side.

[veggiechicken]

I meant just for you VC...

No worries, I'm often mistaken for a gorilla

[MagpieKnitter]

Love your plot - looks like my garden! Fruit bushes roaming everywhere!
Raspberries do take over very quickly and spring up yards away from where they were planted, usually to the south. They seem to follow the sun. If you want to keep them in the bed, plant on the north side.

Interesting. Although my bed faces about 30 degrees west of south so of little consequence. I have noted it on my raspberry page in my notebook though, for future reference.

With regard to the roaming fruit, it great, but I like veggies too, and flowers, and unfortunately that isn't the only thing roaming....

[Muddy_Boots]

I've planted 18 raspberry canes in 3 rows of 6, had 3 different varieties delivered in November so planted them under the instructions of the 2 most knowledgeable growers I call 'oracles' of our allotments.

Also inherited a single raspberry bush that was in the wrong place so also dug that up and created a 4th row with 10 canes from the clump, have left about a 2ft gap between rows as I'm always guilty of planting stuff too close together.

Now I just hope that when spring finally arrives and the weather starts warming up new shoots will appear .... else I've got 4 rows of what they look like at the moment .... and that's dead sticks.

[veggiechicken]

With regard to the roaming fruit, it great, but I like veggies too, and flowers, and unfortunately that isn't the only thing roaming....

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You can play "Granny, pop out of your nightdress".............or is it just me who does that?
(I don't mean that I pop out of my nightdress) just Granny!