Raspberries are expensive to buy in the shops, but are really easy to grow if you can give them a sunny or partly shaded spot with well-drained soil.
What to do
Prepare site by weeding and digging in plenty of well-rotted manure a few weeks before planting.
Raspberries need support. In a small garden, use a single tree stake, hammered firmly into the ground. In a bigger garden or allotment, you can create a frame of canes.
Cut canes down to 30cm (1ft) above the soil.
Water well and keep site free of weeds.
In spring cut the old cane to the ground and tie in new stems to the supports. Feed and mulch.
Prune summer fruiting varieties in autumn, cutting canes that held fruit to ground level and tying in eight of the strongest new stems. In mid-winter prune the tops to 15cm (6in) above the top wire.
Prune autumn fruiting varieties in mid-winter, cutting all stems to ground level.
When to plant
Autumn
Time needed
1 hour to make support
30 minutes to plant row
You will need
Tree stakes
7 x bare root raspberry plants.
Spade
Watering can
Secateurs
Watch Monty Don plant summer-fruiting raspberries.
