Knowing when to plant raspberries in Wisconsin is important to ensure the best results each time.
After all, crops have certain optimal seasons for sowing and harvesting.
So, if you plant raspberries at the perfect time, then you can expect them to grow well and thrive.
If you live in this part of the country, and you wish to know when the best time to plant raspberries is, stick around – we’ll share with you specific tips and advice you need to know. Here’s some expert details that you’ve been waiting for to help you achieve planting success!
Planting Raspberries in Wisconsin – What You Need to Know
Raspberries are among the most commonly grown fruits in gardens. In Wisconsin, for instance, there are several varieties of this berry that you can plant successfully.
For instance, there are summer-bearing raspberries that do amazingly well in Wisconsin. These include Haida, Festival, and Boyne.
On the other hand, certain varieties are more ideal in the fall such as Autumn Bliss, Summit, and Carolina.
As long as you plant these varieties according to the right season, you can expect them to grow and thrive well. Thus, harvest should be something to look forward to, which is a delight to every gardener.
A raspberry patch is an outstanding addition to your outdoor landscape and garden. You can also expect to have an abundant harvest. The time and energy you have devoted to your garden will be truly worth it.
Wisconsin Raspberry Planting Guide – When And How To Start
Eager to have your own raspberry patch in your Wisconsin garden? Here are important tips you need to know.
1. Determine the variety to plant.
If you choose to plant summer varieties, do note that you can expect a large crop during the late summer months. As for the fall varieties, they grow in Wisconsin’s lower 2/3 location. These are areas with a longer raspberry growing season.
However, colder climates are prone to early frost. Hence, this can negatively impact your crops in the late-fall even before they have developed fully. With this in mind, it is best to understand the type of climates you have and which raspberry variety works best for you.
Autumn Britten raspberries are great because of the cold hardiness, delicious flavor, and high yield of this variety. It is also best planted in the early fall, which means you can harvest them prior to the first major frost of the season.
2. Decide on the location.
Once you have chosen the raspberry variety you wish to grow, you can then decide on the best place to plant it.
A perfect spot for raspberries is in a well-draining and sunny location. It is best that there is ample spacing between the crops, which can ensure good air circulation for abundant growth.
We also recommend that you place a pathway right around your raspberry patch. This way, you can easily harvest the fruit when the time comes. Additionally, a path also prevents soil compaction in the patch.
If you are planting your crops near your neighbor’s vegetable garden, you can also use the path to determine which one is yours. If there is any spreading growth, the path allows you to remove it easily.
3. Ensure the health of the soil and the crops.
Raspberries are quite easy to grow and cultivate. However, there are things you need to do, so you can ensure their successful development.
You need to monitor the watering, which should not be done in excess. Remove the weeds, amend the soil continuously, and watch for pests that can ruin your crops.
If you are planting in the summer, you need to make sure that the soil temperature is ideal. This will help to minimize moisture loss while preventing the growth of weeds. Sometimes, there will be some low-hanging fruit growing, and you need to keep them from touching the soil.
In case your crops are still quite thin as winter approaches, you should simply allow them to keep growing. Do not prune them; instead, just clean the old hay and leaves out. They will also need insulation for the first frost. A layer of natural compost with another layer of hay should do the trick.
Should there be some wild growth or dead branches, you can simply cut these back in the spring.
Read more: Easy & Simple Steps on How to Prune Raspberries in the Spring
4. Prevent cane borers from causing damages to your crops.
A very common raspberry pest is the cane borer. They cause the plants’ tips to wilt before dying off.
As the cane borer lays its eggs, the stems and leaves become punctures. With this in mind, you need to perform certain techniques to eliminate them and stop them from wreaking havoc to your crops.
If you notice the stems and leaves wilting, cut the stem off about 5 to 6 inches underneath the punctures. Take out the cuttings that have the eggs and dispose of these appropriately.
Additional Tips for Your Raspberry Patch Success
The pointers above are the basics you need to remember when starting your own raspberry patch in Wisconsin. However, we would like to share additional tips that can ensure an amazing harvest in your very own garden. Here they are:
1. Use the right soil mix.
Healthy crops need the best soil. For a thriving raspberry patch, you will need a couple of inches thick peat moss, then an inch or two thick compost, and an inch or two of coarse builder’s well-draining sand right on the soil’s surface.
To add to these, you will also need granulated fertilizer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended application rates for best results. Mix in the soil amendments with the fertilizer using a garden spade and turn the soil over.
2. Add some trellis for support.
Your raspberries will need some row-trellis for optimum support.
We recommend using posts that are about 7 feet tall and 6 inches in diameter. Erect them about 24 inches deep into the ground and in every 20 feet of the row.
Use some sturdy, thick wire to connect these posts. There should be two of these wires – one is closer to the ground while the other is 20 inches off the ground.
3. Create distances.
Your crops require good spacing to grow well.
Thus, you should plant them a couple of feet apart and in rows that are up to 8 or even 6 feet apart.
4. Stop weed growth.
Weeds can easily destroy your crops. So, to discourage them from growing, you should spread your mulch made of hay or straw a couple of inches deep over your bed’s surface. This can also help to retain the moisture in the soil to prevent dryness.
5. Soaker hose is best.
When watering your crops, it is best to use a soaker hose.
Position the hose close to the plant’s base and let the water penetrate in the soil for an hour. This is ideal to do for your newly planted crops.
In the succeeding days, however, you can simply give your crops a decent amount of water that is about an inch of rainfall every week.
Final Thoughts
In Wisconsin, the best times to plant raspberries are either in the summer or the fall. It all depends on the raspberry variety to wish to plant, as well as the type of climate you have.
The colder the climate, the more ideal it is to plant summer varieties to mitigate the effects of early frost.
Keep these tips and suggestions in mind to help your raspberry patch thrive. Then, you can expect an abundant harvest worth your time investment!