Many thanks to Kayla Brouwer for an informative talk last night on the subjects of blueberry pollination and commercial raspberry production, and for answering our questions on backyard growing. Below are pertinent slides from Kayla’s presentation.
Here are a few excellent websites that Kayla passed along that should answer every question you may have about raspberries:
• Washington State University Small Fruit Horticulture Research & Extension Program – Red Raspberry: Red Raspberry | Small Fruit Horticulture Research & Extension Program | Washington State University
• Information on trellising (pages 13-17): https://ramonasgardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/RaspBlackInIdaho-BUL0812.pdf
• Raspberry Cultivars for the Pacific Northwest (including chart listing cultivars and their characteristics): Raspberry Cultivars for the Pacific Northwest
Two final interesting pieces of information:
• Raspberries tend to like lower light conditions which is why they perform well in the Pacific Northwest—intense sunshine actually sunburns the berries.
• If you cannot grow raspberries in the ground due to space limitations or soil issues, a cultivar called Raspberry Shortcake is available that grows well in containers. Gardenworks lists it on its plant database so perhaps it will appear in the new store! Raspberry Shortcake Raspberry (Rubus 'NR7') in Vancouver Victoria Burnaby Penticton Coquitlam British Columbia BC at GardenWorks
Once again, thank you to Kayla and our best wishes for her completion of the Masters of Science program at WSU.
