Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
Fall-bearing kinds are the easiest to prune.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 5 ft tall, 3 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: Europe and N. America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: Temperate Europe, Northern Europe & the taiga. Hardy in zones 3 to 8.
The story
Red raspberries come from Europe and Asia. Black raspberries (R. occidentalis) are Ohio natives. Each raspberry is made of about 100 tiny fruits called drupelets.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: well-drained (pH 5.8–6.5). Spacing: 2–3 ft. Pollination: self-fertile.
Growing
Water: 1 in/week. Winter: Cut out canes that fruited. Spring: Tie canes to the trellis. Summer: Pick every 2–3 days. Fall: Everbearing types can be mowed to the ground.
Harvest and use
Harvest: June–July and/or fall. First crop: 1–2 years.
What to watch for
Japanese beetles, cane borers, spotted wing drosophila.
See if Raspberry fits your yard
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home