The Best Ways to Grow Raspberries in Alberta

Raspberries are known for their tartness and sweetness, a combination that would make you want to learn more about how to grow them in your backyard. Another thing is that these berries usually sell at high prices. 

So, let no one stop you from growing raspberries. If you’re from Alberta, it’s nice to know that these berries love its zone 3 climate.

Growing A Raspberry Patch in Alberta

Here are some tips to ensure success when you decide to cultivate your own raspberry patch in Alberta:

1. Choose the Right Varieties

These berries are classified into two: ever-bearing and summer-bearing. 

Ever-bearing bear fruits from mid-August to the fall’s first frost. On the other hand, summer-bearing produces harvest from July to half of August. 

To ensure you’ll have harvested all summer, you can plant a combination of both varieties.

Here are some samples of ever-bearing varieties of raspberry:

• Fall brook
• Double Delight
• Red River
• Autumn bliss
• Summit

Here are some samples of summer-bearing varieties of raspberry:

• SK Red Mammoth
• Festival
• Boyne
• Honeyqueen
• Killarney

2. Use the Right Soil

To ensure maximum fruit harvest, plant them in soils with high levels of nitrogen. You can add compost to the soil before planting to achieve it. 

If a good compost is not available, you can use a 10-10-10 fertilizer on the plants after the snow has melted and repeat the process middle of May.

3. Planting the Berries

You need to soak the plant’s roots in water for an hour before planting. If you are transplanting, ensure the plant’s roots are not exposed to wind or the sun, which can lead to dryness.

Trim the cane up to nine inches when the plants begin getting taller. This helps grow healthy roots.

4. Watering the Plants

Raspberries need sufficient water that can cover up to their base. This is crucial to get more harvest and protect the plants from having fungal diseases.

Written by Coral Hart