How, When and Why of Forest Farming Website

Purple Raspberry

General
Common NamePurple Raspberry
Latin NameRubus odoratus
CategoryFruits 
FamilyBrambles 
VarietySee Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home 
Visual Traits
Flowerpurple
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Fruitaggregates of drupelets; red
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Height5 ft
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Cultivation
Cultivation and Mulchingcultivate 3' wide strip, no deeper than 2"; do not mulch
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Field preparation and plantingprepare soil one season prior to planting; clear wild brambles; do not plant in location that may host verticillum wilt
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Field spacing / planting depth30" within rows, 9-10' between rows / 1" deeper than grown in nursery
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Harvestevery 2-3days
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Propagation methodroot suckers, bare root, tissue culture
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PruningJune, pinch primocanes back when 3-4' tall; early spring, prune off winter damaged canes and cut laterals back to 1' length, thin canes to 2-3/linear foot row
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Retail Source30 in apart, in rows 9-10 ft apart
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Softwood cuttingssummer and/or fall; berries do not last > 2-3 days on plant
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Transplantrooted canes early spring; tissue culture plantlets after last frost
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Watering guidelineswater liberally at planting; require irrigation throughout growing season; early morning so that plants may dry during day; plant in raised beds if threat of water accumulation
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Critters
Insect and invertebrate pestsraspberry cane borers; raspberry fruitworms; spider mites; blackberry leafminers; raspberry sawflies; japanese beetles
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Pathogensphytophthora root rot, mosaic virus, ringspot virus, verticillium wilt; spur blight, cane blight, anthracnose; botrytis fruit rot; orange rust
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Wildlife Pestsrodents
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Soils
Fertility / qualitywell drained
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Moisture and drainageexcessive water promotes phytophthora root rot or frost heave; drought intolerant
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pH5.5-6.5
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Textureprefers sandy loam, tolerates wide range
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Growth Pattern
Fruit bearing age / full crop load1-2y / 3y (replant after 10y)
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Growth ratefast
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Longevityshort
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Habitat and Climate
Fire tolerancevery tolerant
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Frost-free days (FFD)90
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Hardiness ZoneZones 5-7
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Wind / ice / frost susceptibilitysusceptible to frost heave in wet soils
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Light
Light recommendationfull sun
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Shade tolerancemoderately tolerant
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Special Notes
Note 1hydridizes readily with other Rubus sp.
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