Choosing a Site

A deep, rich, well drained, sandy loam is ideal for strawberry production. A slight to medium acid soil is best. Due to strawberries’ high water requirements, the soil needs to have plenty of organic matter to help hold moisture for growing plants. It is wise to amend the soil with compost prior to planting.

Planting Strawberries

It is important to plant as early as possible in the spring. Snow or light frosts will not hurt the plants. Plants should be planted in rows 12-18 inches wide. Plants should be planted 12-18 inches apart. Set plants with roots straight down. Care should be taken so that the plants are set with the crowns level with the top of the ground. This is very important to the strawberry’s survival and overall health. Throughout the season, avoid covering either old or new crowns with soil while hoeing, weeding, or cultivating. Be sure to water the plants well after planting.

Maintaining Strawberry Plant Health

To keep your plants healthy and productive over the years, follow these few steps:

1. As soon as harvest is complete, mow off the leaves using your lawn mower set at the highest setting
2. Rototill to narrow row width to 12-18 inches. Remove excess plants to leave 3-5 inches around each plant
3. Fertilize with a well balanced, slow release, all purpose fertilizer (4-4-4)
4. Maintain adequate moisture throughout the growing season.
5. Mulch in November when plants start to go dormant. This will help with fluctuating temperatures.

Harvesting

Berries will be bright red, slightly firm, and juicy when ripe. The berries will also have a natural shine. Strawberries should be picked at their prime – they do not ripen after picking.

Drake’s 7 Dees specializes in creating beautiful, enriching outdoor spaces throughout the Pacific Northwest. Raspberries provide a beautiful, edible addition for our client’s garden space. If you are interested in growing delicious raspberries in your home or garden area, we encourage you to reach out to us!

In today’s post, you will find some great information to help you successfully grow raspberries here in the Pacific Northwest.

Choosing a Site for Growing Raspberries

Raspberries produce best in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Raspberries grow best on a raised bed 8-10 inches high and 18-36 inches wide. We suggest working Gypsum into the raised beds. This will help prevent root rot. The pH should be between 5.5 and 7.5. If your pH is below 5.5, add lime.

Planting Raspberries

Dig a shallow hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Prune off any damaged root parts. Spread the root mass and set the plant in the ground. Raspberries should be planted one inch deeper than the plant grew in the nursery. Cover the roots and press firmly on the soil to remove air pockets. Fertilizing should be done 4-6 weeks later. Space plants 2-3 feet apart in a row. It is wise to trellis all raspberries. A simple trellis system 6 feet tall of wire supports strung between posts is preferred. Our Portland garden center can get you set up with everything you need for growing raspberries no matter the space!

Pruning Raspberries

Pruning should be done in the early spring. Look for canes with no buds or new growth. These canes were the ones that produced fruit last year and should be pruned away. This will allow better air circulation and higher quality berries.

Harvesting Raspberries

Raspberries should be harvested every 3 to 6 days depending on weather and cultivation. When ripe, the berries come right off the vine. To extend the shelf life, pick berries when they are dry, and refrigerate as soon as possible.

Grapes are an elegant and beautiful addition to any space. Here are a few tips to get you started growing your own!

Preparing a Site to Plant Grapes

Grape vines require 2-3 years to produce a first harvest crop. They generally don’t reach full production until the fifth or sixth year. The first step to acquire the perfect bunch of grapes is to choose a location that gets full sun. If possible choose a sloping site to help avoid spring frost damage. Even though grapes can grow in any type of soil, well drained soil is essential. Young grape vines cannot compete with weeds or established lawn grass for water and nutrients. It is important to select a site that is free of any competition. Compost should be tilled into the entire planting bed, not just the hole before planting begins.

Planting

Grapes are generally planted in rows and trained on a trellis. The spacing between the rows should be about nine feet. The individual plants should be planted seven to eight feet apart in the rows.

Grapes should be planted in the early spring if possible. Before planting, prune the grape cane back to only two buds. Set the plant in a hole large enough to spread the roots out without bending them. The depth should be the same depth as they were planting in the nursery pot you bought the grapes in.

Though they do not need it, adding a slow release fertilizer to the soil each spring would assist in the growth and health of the plant.

Harvesting Grapes

The most important part of growing grapes is the harvesting of the fruit. This can be tricky because unlike other fruits, grape color is not a good indication of maturity. In table and wine grapes, ripeness is determined by seed color. The grape is mature when the grape seed turns from a green color to brown. Maturities of seedless table grapes are simply determined by taste.