Planting Raspberries and Blackberries: Tips for Preparation and Planting

Are you interested in growing your own raspberries and blackberries but don't know where to start? Look no further! In this video, we follow a seasoned gardener as he plants a variety of raspberries and blackberries, sourced from StockPro's Nursery.

Preparing the Ground: Before planting, it is important to prepare the ground properly. Raspberries and blackberries thrive in organic matter, so it is necessary to add compost to the soil. Our gardener uses a big red tractor to make a trench with a shovel attachment up to 24 inches deep. Then, he uses a cargo unloader to load and unload compost into the trench. This method saves time and effort.

Adding Compost: Compost helps to raise the soil's pH level, making it more alkaline, which is ideal for raspberries. The gardener added compost up to 18 inches deep, mixing it with the soil using a tiller attachment to make it fine for making berms.

Making Berms: Our gardener makes berms because they have clay soil, which can cause waterlogging around the roots of berries. If you have sandy soil, you can plant your berries right on the flat ground. The spacing between raspberry and blackberry plants is three feet, and the row spacing is eight feet, allowing enough space for the plants to grow and for people to pick the fresh berries.

Planting: Our gardener uses a PVC pipe to mark every three feet interval and digs holes using a shovel to create a depression on top of the berm. He then fills each hole with water using a water can and plants bare root raspberry and blackberry plants. Once the plant is in the hole, he curves the soil up, ensuring that it is already moist with water to prevent the roots from drying out.

Conclusion: By following these steps, you too can grow your own raspberries and blackberries at home. Remember to source your plants from reputable nurseries, like StockPro's Nursery, and prepare the ground properly by adding compost to ensure healthy, thriving plants. Happy planting!