How to plant long-cane raspberries

They're quite pricey, but a good option if you don't want to wait for your crop.

During the summer the plants will send up new canes from the base of the plant, and these will go on to produce fruit in the following year.

You Will Need

• Long-cane raspberries
• Garden spade
• Garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure
• Sulphate of potash
• 2.5m fencing posts
• Vine eyes
• Galvanised wire
• Plastic tensioner
• Mycorrhizal fungi
• Secateurs
• Soft string or twine
• Watering can

Total time: An afternoon

Step 1

Choose a bright, sunny site and well-drained soil. Dig over the ground, removing any weeds and large stones, then work in plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost. Sprinkle sulphate of potash over the soil surface and fork it in lightly.

Step 2

To support the canes, stand 2.5m long fencing posts in 75cm-deep holes and fix firmly in place. Space the posts 5m apart. Screw vine eyes into each post at 60cm intervals, thread plastic coated wire through the eyes, then tighten each row with a plastic tensioner.

Step 3

Make up a solution of mycorrhizal fungi, then dunk the bare roots into it until coated. Using secateurs, trim each root, removing damaged sections and anything that will not fit into the planting hole. Place the plants in position along the row, spacing them about 45cm apart.

Step 4

Dig a hole for each bare-root plant adjacent to the lowest wire. Plant 15-20cm deep, so the roots are covered, but no deeper. Soak the plants well, then tie each cane to the wires using string or twine.