Raspberries

Raspberries are a tender subject. I enjoy fresh berries and the Mrs has graciously planted a few strawberry plants over the past few years. However, a few years back I took it upon myself to “get in the game” and purchased a couple raspberry plants. Ever so carefully I planted in an unused area of the yard that I thought would be ideal. Unfortunately, for me and my berries, the Mrs decided to “clean out” this particular area and mistook my fledgling plants for uninvited guests in HER yard and promptly pulled them out. A short time later when I went to check on the progress of my future pleasure I found them among the missing. Knowing that the gardener of the family was intimately aware of everything that happens in the yard I casually asked, “What happened to my raspberries?” To which she replied, “Oh, I thought those were weeds and pulled them out.”

Alas, no raspberries for me. However, now about four years later I find out from the fella living in that house that those raspberry plants did not give up easily. Instead, they left a remnant and this summer when he was cutting the lawn he would regularly walk by, pick a few berries, and enjoy the fruit that I thought would be mine.

So, the mention of raspberries brings nothing but sour grapes to this old man.

-- Everyone needs someone irrationally committed to their future.

oh no :(
(reminds me of my lush periwinkle that I had taken years to grow and my mom pulled it all out because “that stuff grows everywhere and takes over”... but we won’t mention that .. grabbing a tissue)

I do have to chuckle, though, at the thought of the guy smiling at his yummy crop.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

in the link above it suggests that everbearing raspberries be cut right back in the fall. Since our crop wasn’t a good one this year I think I’m going to give this a try. They will either like the cut or not. We’ll see next year!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

I thought that raspberries bloom ( & grew ) on the previous year’s stem. Hence one cleans out the old stock, but leaves the fresh stock. Am I mistaken?

-- jroot

I assumed that is what it was as well. I’ll have to re-read that info above but I think it said to clean out the second year’s growth in the fall (that which produced this year) so that it didn’t affect the crop next year.
But with the everbearing raspberries that you took it all to the ground in the fall.

We have 2 rows so perhaps I’ll just cut one row back and see what the effects are.
I was going to cut it today but the few berries that I ate when I went out there changed my mind. Yummy (sorry Russel).

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Russel … so much for “family secrets” ... LOL!!!!

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

((tries to hide in the corner.. but watches for fireworks)) hahaha

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Hey Russel next time try some plant markers.They do wonders in a garden when more than 1 person is caring for it.I learned the hard way.(lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I’ll try that next, Bon, assuming there is a next time. I can’t blame the Mrs too much, who knew I’d ever plant anything?

-- Everyone needs someone irrationally committed to their future.

Hey, I just found out that my mystery photo is actually a form of raspberry.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/namegal/msg100728553572.html?3
It is Rubus odoratus, purple flowering raspberry. It is native to eastern North America, but per the Global Compendium of Weeds, has escaped cultivation in Finland.
Here is a link that might be useful: Rubus odoratus, purple flowering raspberry

Neat. Maybe I can plant it and eat it too. I might need to eat it with the economic market going the way it is. :(

-- jroot

Tips for growing raspberries….stick’em in the ground, when they take over, cut’em down, they’ll be back.

Oddly enough I was STILL eating them off the cane last weekend. Didn’t even check all the wild blackberries and wild black raspberries in my woods.

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist......Zone out....(USA 5)

Rasberries are one of the few things I have had good success with here. We just add a little composted steer manure to the bed every spring and water occassionally (we get plenty of rain) and have lots of them to enjoy.

Mart

-- Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see believes in God.

the sad part about our raspberries is that nobody in my house really likes them

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

You can send them all to me MsD. I love raspberries. :-)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Bon, great minds think alike. I love raspberries. Send them my way. I’m closer than Bon LOL.

Think morning, with yogurt, raspberries, and slices of peach ( now they would have to be preserved ). Great stuff. Good antioxidants. Great taste. :)

-- jroot

I agree totally with Catspaw. It just depends on how far you want to fight your way into them. Then just cut them off to the ground and wait till next year. They will be back. Any of you guys ever make a good raspberry pie? It’s great. Or rhubarb raspberry pie? Or rhubarb strawberry pie? That’s all good stuff.

-- As always, bbqKing. Lawrenceville, Ga.

what lovely members we have—so willing to help :)

I do eat them… because I grew them and because they are healthy.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Warm raspberry pie with vanilla ice cream on top. mmm mmm mmm.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Here is the perfect trio. Take a chocolate tart shell. This can be either crushed oreo cookie mixture pressed into a muffin tin, or melting chocolate formed into a tart shell by slowly rotating melted and warm chocolate in the muffin tin.

Then add some lemon pie filling. Home made is best, but out of a box works as well.

Top with a few fresh raspberries, or a raspberry puree with a few raspberries on top.

The perfect trio: chocolate, lemon, and raspberries.

-- jroot

sounds intriguing

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Humm… My raspberries managed to produce 6 ripe berries with dozens and dozens just ready to turn before the frost got them. They were almost really good.

-- http://woodsongsfurniture.com http://woodsongs.etsy.com

LOL

-- jroot

I bet they almost tasted delicious in the recipes!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan