When to plant Raspberries in the UK

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
Plant out November to February, harvest August to October.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

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

    mid-November to early February UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Plant bare-root canes from mid-November to early February 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

    mid-May to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates Optional · repeat every 365 days

    From mid-May to late October, water well in the first year, then in dry spells while the fruit swells. Do this each year.

  3. 03

    Feed And Mulch

    mid-March to mid-April UK average · set your town for your exact dates Optional · repeat every 365 days

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

  4. 04

    Net Against Birds

    late July to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates

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

  5. 05

    Harvest Ripe Fruit

    early August to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates

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

  6. 06

    Cut Canes To The Ground

    early February to early March UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    From early February to early March, 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.