Tuesdays with Annie 02 23 10

If you love raspberries and you want that fresh sweetness of simple fruit throughout the growing season, read today’s blog. It’s all about raspberries! Even if there are a few snowflakes dotting the grass, it is time to think spring, gardens and fresh fruit! This is the time to order your root stock. Enjoy!

1) Raspberries like wet, heavy soil. False. If you don’t want any root rot diseases, you need to make sure you don’t plant in wet soils or go too heavy on the irrigation. Plant your raspberries in well-drained soils with full sun and adequate moisture. Give the plants good air circulation but don’t choose too windy of a spot. The air exchange helps keep the plants healthy. Trellising also opens up the canopy to the air and makes it easier to pick the fruit.

2) Raspberries should not be grown in soils where potatoes, tomatoes or any other plant that harbors the disease, Verticillium Wilt were or are grown. True. This lesson is mentioned frequently – make sure where and what soils you do plant in are not harboring diseases. Verticillium Wilt can stay in the soils for many years. Remember what was planted where in the past and never compost any plant material that can harbor this disease. This would perpetuate these types of problems in your composted soil. Always burn or dispose of any suspicious or diseased plant materials - never, ever compost anything questionable.

3) Raspberries do not spread or sucker new canes. False. Raspberries do spread through suckering and if left unattended can spread quite rapidly. Because of this growth habit, it is very important to locate your raspberries in a space where they cannot invade neighboring plants. If you have an expansive lawn, dig out a planting bed within the lawn area or better yet, construct a raised bed. It is important to get basic tips on pruning your raspberries to keep the plants under control and for optimum health and productivity. There are a number of exceptional raspberry varieties to choose from, all of which have very distinct flavor and fruiting characteristics. Mix them up to extend the fruiting season and choose varieties hardy to your zone. Make certain you purchase your root stock from a reputable source. You want healthy plants with no sign of diseases. A great supplier in South Deerfield, Massachusetts is Nourse Farm. To find out more information you can find them on the web at http://www.noursefarms.com/ or by calling 413-665-2658. Friendly and helpful service!

4) Raspberries are a member of the Rosaceae (Rose family.) True. Raspberries belong to the genus Rubus, a part of the Rose family. Raspberries and roses: Annie’s favorite fruit and a favorite flower. There is nothing more beautiful than a cut rose from your garden and some sweet raspberries in a bowl!

5) Yellow raspberries are higher in antioxidants than its red or black raspberry counterparts. False. Darker pigmented fruit provide more antioxidants. Yellow raspberries have a delicate sweetness not found in the darker varieties. Supplement these yellow fellows with blueberries, cranberries or red grapes to make up for any shortage in antioxidants.

Today’s inspirational thought of the day comes from one of our oldest thinkers, Aristotle. “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. “



A snapshot of Cokie dreaming about fresh summer fruit – photo by Greg Bilowz