Three Reasons Why Nourse Farms Loves Black Raspberries
At Nourse Farms, we love propagating black raspberries, enjoying their delicious harvest, and, most importantly, we love empowering gardeners to grow their own black raspberries. Whether you're looking for a variety that'll give you a bountiful harvest ideal for jams and jellies or searching for the perfect option to extend your berry season, you're sure to find the perfect black raspberry for your landscape with our variety selection.
Here are a few reasons why Nourse Farms loves black raspberries:
- Pollinator Magnet. Pollinators will appreciate you for incorporating black raspberries into your landscape because pollinators, especially bees, adore the sweet nectar the flowers produce. Additionally, insects like butterflies, beetles, and flies are attracted to pollen and nectar. Several species of butterfly and moth caterpillars love munching on the leaves.
- Nourishing Morsels. Black raspberries are among the healthiest berries due to their high levels of anthocyanins and antioxidants. Anthocyanins are a vital part of a healthy diet. Research shows that anthocyanins may help lower blood pressure, prevent neurological diseases, and reduce the risk of heart disease. In a study published in 2023, black raspberries outperformed strawberries and red raspberries in calcium, magnesium, and flavonoid levels.
- Fabulous Flavor. Black raspberries' unique flavor profile distinguishes them from traditional red raspberries. With every bite, you will enjoy a robust, aromatic, and delectably sweet burst of flavor. Often, consumers describe their taste as having a richer flavor than red raspberries, and black raspberries lack tartness. Indeed, there's nothing quite like the experience of a ripe black raspberry!
Terms to Know
Primocane
Primocane (fall-bearing) raspberry plants bear some fruit in the first fall of the planting year and either summers or falls after that depending on how they are managed. Most fall-bearers will produce the best crop if canes are cut down each year and only allowed to fruit in the fall.
Floricane
Floricane (summer-bearing) raspberry plants bear fruit one year after planting. Those second-year canes are pruned out after the summer harvest.
Soil pH
Soil pH is how we measure how acidic or alkaline your soil is. The scale is 0 to 14, with seven being neutral. Soil pH impacts the availability of nutrients in the soil. Depending on the plants’ needs, if the soil pH is too high or too low, the plant may fail to produce fruit or to grow at all.
Crown
The crown is at ground level, where roots below the ground and canes above ground meet.
Cane
Stem that grows up from the crown and the base of old canes.
Leaves
Raspberry leaves are compound and have three to five leaflets.
Pruning
Pruning is the act of removing canes. Black raspberry plants are vigorous; pruning discourages overgrowth and allows for adequate airflow, aiding disease prevention. Pruning improves fruit quality and maximizes productivity. Pruning is essential to the raspberry growing process.
Primocane and Floricane black raspberries require different pruning methods. Click here to read more about pruning in our How to Grow Raspberries guide.
Prepare for Planting
When selecting a place to plant your black raspberry plants, avoid a site where previous plants have included strawberries, brambles (raspberries and blackberries), potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, or peppers. These crops may harbor soil pathogens, negatively impacting your plants’ health and performance.
You’ll also want the location you pick to plant your raspberry plants to be sunny and weed-free. Black raspberry plants like eight or more hours of direct sunlight daily.
When deciding how much room you’ll need for your plants, give them about 20–24 inches of space between each other and 8–12 feet between rows. This will allow plenty of room for growth with optimal light exposure and airflow.
You’ll want to check your soil pH and can do so using a tool called a digital soil pH meter. You’ll want the soil pH to land in the range of 6.5–6.8. If your pH is higher than 6.8, you can add elemental sulfur to lower the pH level. If your pH is lower than
Growing Guidance
When you receive your black raspberry plants from Nourse Farms, you’ll want to get them into the ground right away. (Remember, when you place your order, you get to select your shipping week. Make sure to pick a time when the soil will have warmed to 50ºF. If you’re not sure when that might be, check out our Recommended Planting Season chart on our website.)
Black raspberry plants are sold as dormant plugs (32 Plug/Liner). The plug is approximately four inches. Plant plugs one-half to one inch deeper than the soil level of the plant.
Mulch lightly with weed seed-free straw during establishment to control weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Leaves, grass clippings, and wood bark are not recommended, as they may become matted or too heavy, impeding the growth of new canes.
Trellising black raspberries is one of the most important cultural practices. We suggest plants be supported by a 3- or 4-wire trellis. A trellis or staking is highly recommended to keep fruit clean, maximize air circulation, and minimize cane breakage. Black raspberries are best trained to a 3-4 wire trellis with the support of a 4' x 4' every 25 feet (see diagram). Attach the main canes to the wire with a clip or a slightly loose twist tie.
Helpful Hints
Avoiding Thorns
Thorns are a natural defense against hungry animals that want to snack on the plant and its fruit. To enjoy your bountiful harvest pain-free, here are two tips for managing thorns while harvesting:
- Ensure proper plant spacing. Due to black raspberry’s thorny canes, it is essential to plant your black raspberry plants with adequate spacing (20–24 inches) between each other to reduce overcrowding. Overcrowding makes harvesting more challenging and increases disease pressure while decreasing air circulation.
- Dress for the part. We recommend wearing long sleeves, long pants, and gloves while picking your black raspberries. You may need to reach to pick the ripe fruit, and covering exposed skin can reduce pricks. Sturdier material (e.g., jeans) will reduce thorns getting snagged in clothing items.
At Nourse Farms, we offer one thornless black raspberry variety (Shekinah Tahi) and four varieties with thorns (Bristol, Jewel, Mac Black, and Niwot). With berries as sweet as ours, we can assure you a few thorns are well worth it!
Choosing the Variety That’s Right for You
- If you’re looking to harvest black raspberries in summer and fall by double cropping, we recommend growing Niwot.
- If you love crafting rich jams and jellies, we recommend growing Jewel.
- If disease resistance is a top priority, we recommend growing Mac Black and Bristol.
- If you’re looking for a thornless variety, we recommend growing Shekinah Tahi.
- If you’re looking for excellent yields, we recommend growing Bristol, Niwot, and Jewel.
- If you’re looking for a vigorous variety, we recommend growing Shekinah Tahi and Bristol.
- If you’re looking to extend your black raspberry season, we recommend growing Mac Black.
