In this post, I will share the downside of growing raspberries but instead of leaving you hanging I will offer up solutions as well.
Raspberries are one of my all-time favorite fruits. They have a bit of tartness that when paired with a little bit of sweetness gives the tastebuds something to smile about.
And, because they are not considered a very sweet fruit they are tolerated by more people. Insulin levels do not spike as drastically as say eating a thoroughly ripe banana. And for those following a keto type of lifestyle, I have found these sweet-tart berries to work well.
However, the cost of purchasing fresh raspberries is high and let’s face it, you just don’t get many berries. This is because the berries crush easily which makes transporting difficult. So, you can see how I was pleasantly surprised to find there are options.
GROWING RASPBERRIES IN THE HOME GARDEN COMES WITH DRAWBACKS
- They have thorns. This can make picking the fruit or caring for the plant a challenge. And the prickers attach to clothing too, which depending on the fabric type, can cause it to pull or run. Or, you can find yourself getting scratched by the thorns.
- Raspberry plants have underground shoots that send up additional plants that are prickly. Stepping on these barefoot is not fun for children, adults or pets. And pulling them without wearing gloves will leave you with a hand full of prickers. Ouch!
- Raspberries can take over an area quickly if underground shoots are left to grow. And not to mention, the space you have allotted may already be constrained. This can make harvesting the ripe berries more difficult to reach due to the size of the bush and their prickers.
OVERCOME THE RASPBERRY DELEMA
- Observe your property and plant raspberries on the periphery. In my area, I noticed they were growing wild along the roadside with larger plants and trees behind them. I wanted to mimic nature so I planted mine along a tree line on the property.
You can easily maintain their spread with a lawnmower and the rest of your property won’t be invaded.
- Yes, raspberries typically do have prickers. I say, it’s just the nature of the beast however I am seeing raspberry varieties that have few to no prickers if that is a deal breaker for you. One such raspberry from Stark Brothers Nursery is called Joan J Primocane Red Raspberry.
- If you have a very small growing area and do not feel that raspberries are a good fit, then you will want to consider the Bushel and Berry Raspberry Shortcake. It is both thornless and compact and can even be grown in containers!
I always say when life throws you lemons make lemonade. Or, when faced with an obstacle find the way around it as in this case of growing raspberries.