When can I plant raspberry outside?

Direct sow or transplant 4 weeks before your last spring frost.

How long until raspberry is ready to harvest?

365 days. Berries are fully colored and pull easily from the core (receptacle); they should not require tugging

When to Plant Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

fruitZones 3–9intermediate

Prolific bramble fruit available in red, black, and golden varieties. Summer-bearing and everbearing types extend the harvest season. Spreads via suckers to fill a row quickly.

Planting calendar

Direct sow / transplant

4 weeks before your last spring frost.

Plant bare-root canes in spring; takes one year for summer-bearers to fruit; everbearing types fruit first fall

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 24-36 inches
Row spacing: 36-48 inches
Days to harvest: 365 days
Ready when: Berries are fully colored and pull easily from the core (receptacle); they should not require tugging

Companion planting

Plant near

Garlic — Deters Japanese beetles and aphids

Keep away from

Potato — Potatoes can spread blight to raspberries

Get raspberry planting dates for your exact zone

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns