When to plant Raspberries in Durham

Rubus idaeus

Raspberry
Raspberry · Rubus idaeus

A hardy cane fruit for UK gardens. Plant bare-root canes while dormant. Summer types fruit on last year’s canes. Autumn types fruit on this year’s. Keep them watered in the first season, mulch each year, and tie in new growth.

180 cm · Full Sun · High Water

Calibrated to Durham · last frost ≈ 10 May

Plant out November to January, harvest August to October. Frost risk October to May.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

They fruit on this year’s canes. You get a crop in the year you plant. Pruning is simpler.

  1. 01

    Plant Bare-Root Canes

    5 Nov to 29 Jan 2027

    Plant bare-root canes from 5th November to 29th January 2027 in fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Only plant if the ground is open, not frozen or wet. Cut new canes to about after planting. Water in well.

  2. 02

    Water

    25 May to 16 Oct 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    From 25th May 2027 to 16th October 2027, water well in the first year, then in dry spells while the fruit swells. Do this each year.

  3. 03

    Feed And Mulch

    26 Mar to 25 Apr 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    Around 26th March - 25th April 2027, mulch with compost or well-rotted manure. Do this once a year. Feed only if growth is weak.

  4. 04

    Net Against Birds

    18 Jul to 16 Oct 2027

    Put netting over from 18th July 2027, when the fruit starts to colour. Keep it on through last pick, to 16th October 2027. Keep it taut.

  5. 05

    Harvest Ripe Fruit

    2 Aug to 16 Oct 2027

    They fruit in the year you plant. Pick from 2nd August 2027 to 16th October 2027 as berries fully colour and come away with a gentle pull. Keep picking until frost.

  6. 06

    Cut Canes To The Ground

    9 Feb to 11 Mar 2027

    From 9th February 2027 to 11th March 2027, cut all canes to the ground before new growth starts. Clear the old growth so new shoots come away cleanly.

    • Leaving some canes for an earlier crop is a separate prune.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Raspberry to consider

Glen Ample

A widely grown summer-fruiting raspberry with large, good-flavoured berries and strong yields.

Malling Jewel

An early summer-fruiting variety that crops well in UK gardens and is often grown for reliable flavour.

Autumn Bliss

A classic autumn-fruiting raspberry with easy-picking fruit and a long cropping season.

Polka

A productive autumn-fruiting variety that gives good-quality berries over a long picking period.

Raspberry guides by town

See how Raspberry timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.