When to plant Raspberries in Manchester

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

Add to garden

Calibrated to Manchester · last frost ≈ 17 Apr

Plant out November to February, harvest August to November. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

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

    28 Nov to 21 Feb 2027

    Plant bare-root canes from 28th November to 21st February 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

    2 May to 8 Nov 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    From 2nd May 2027 to 8th November 2027, water well in the first year, then in dry spells while the fruit swells. Do this each year.

  3. 03

    Feed And Mulch

    3 Mar to 2 Apr 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    Around 3rd March - 2nd 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

    10 Aug to 8 Nov 2027

    Put netting over from 10th August 2027, when the fruit starts to colour. Keep it on through last pick, to 8th November 2027. Keep it taut.

  5. 05

    Harvest Ripe Fruit

    25 Aug to 8 Nov 2027

    They fruit in the year you plant. Pick from 25th August 2027 to 8th November 2027 as berries fully colour and come away with a gentle pull. Keep picking until frost.

  6. 06

    Cut Canes To The Ground

    17 Jan to 16 Feb 2027

    From 17th January 2027 to 16th February 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.