Ripening RASPBERRIES

Francesco Ponziani, horticulturist at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, shares his wisdom on growing this delicious fruit

- FRANCESCO PONZIANI

Rapberries (Rubus idaeus) are relatively short-lived deciduous plants belonging to the Rosaceae family. Fruits can be red, yellow or black and up to 2.5cm long, and provide good levels of vitamin C, niacin and riboflavin. They are described by many as the finest fruit, more so than strawberries; however, because the fruits perish so rapidly their use isn’t as common. Commercially, only the toughest cultivars are sold, which aren’t nearly as delicious as the selection of cultivars available for the home gardener. But remember: once picked, fruits should be eaten within hours.

All about canes

Raspberry plants produce stems referred to as canes that can reach heights of up to 3m in one season. Cultivars can be either summer fruiting or autumn fruiting. Having both varieties can give you fruit from June through to October.