Raspberries

Raspberries
There are many varieties of raspberries that are red, black, or purple in color. The purple varieties have been produced by cross breeding the red and black varieties. Raspberries grow on canes the second year after planting, and since the canes produce fruit only once, they must be pruned each year.

Raspberries are grown over most parts of the United States, but they are sensitive to both extreme heat and extreme cold. Therefore, in certain areas, the plants may need some type of protection from extremes of weather. Because of their delicate structure, raspberries must be handled carefully during their harvest and processing. They are generally harvested into shallow trays, to prevent crushing, in which they are transported to the plant.

There are two types of raspberries: summer bearing and fall bearing. In some areas of the country, their bearing season may overlap, so raspberries can be harvested early summer until frost. Red and yellow cultivars are summer or fall bearers. Black and purple raspberries are all summer-bearers.

Red and yellow raspberries are the easiest raspberries to grow. Their fruit is sweet and fragrant. Yellow raspberries are mutations, or sports, reds and tend to be very sweet. The color is less attractive to birds, too. Black raspberries are not as winter-hardy as red ones, but tend to tolerate more summer heat. They also are more prone to viral and fungal disease and have stiffer thorns. The berries are seedy but have a very intense flavor. They are good eaten fresh or in preserves.

Purple raspberries are hybrids resulting from crosses between reds and blacks. The canes are generally more winter hardy than the black parents. They tend to be very spiny and productive with large, intensely flavored berries.
Raspberries