Monroe County Master Gardener Association

From the genus Rubus, the raspberry comes in a multitude of species. The photo is a volunteer plant that popped up three years ago. We were trying to eliminate it by digging it, but it began to grown between the fence and our raised bed vegetable garden. We finally gave up last year and felt, since we never saw any fruit, that it would give us some green on the fence. This year we find it covered with blooms that will fruit. We have no idea of the cultivar. Maybe someone can recognize it after we get the fruit. Various raspberries can be cultivated in zones 3 to 9. Besides being delicious, the raspberry has many nutritional benefits due to its high fiber content. It’s also a great source for vitamin C. The leaves may be used fresh or dried for herbal tea. Planting is usually from canes but caution must be taken since they can be invasive since they sucker. Propagation is done through cuttings placed in moist soil. The raspberries are often eaten by the larvae of some moths and butterflies. I’ll definitely watch for that spotted winged fruit fly that lays its eggs under the skin of the fruit. I’ll inspect the fruit well before we pick and eat.
The raspberry bush will need to be watered once or twice a week but the session should be thorough. The raspberry bush can handle direct sun but it needs shade also. A raspberry bush is fairly easy to manage and it will make your summer and fall much sweeter.