How to Plant and Space Raspberries

Choose a planting site with full sun and well-draining, sandy loam soils. Avoid planting in sites where eggplant, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes grew in the last four years.

Prepare your raspberry patch by tilling the soil to encourage deeper rooting. Amend the soil with compost or manure to add nutrients, nitrogen and carbon.

Build trellises or install poles to support the raspberry plants and allow fruiting branches to grow laterally. Build t- or v-shaped trellises, measuring 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet tall from two wooden posts measuring between 4 and 5 feet long. String two lines, spaced approximately 3 1/2 inches apart, between two end trellises. You may also support plants by planting in hills and installing poles beside each plant, with the poles spaced 4 feet apart. Tie line or wire between two poles to encourage lateral growth of fruiting branches.

Plant each raspberry transplant after the final spring frost, carefully keeping roots moist during the transplanting process. Plant transplants to the same depth they were planted in the field or nursery.

Space plants 3 ½ to 4 feet apart in rows, to allow plants to grow outward during their second year. Space each row 8 to 12 feet apart to allow walking room between rows when the plants begin growing outward.

Prune newly planted raspberry canes to a height of approximately 5 inches to encourage growth. Prune with clean scissors or pruning shears to prevent transfer of plant diseases to the first-year cane.

Water the transplanted raspberry plant after planting to avoid drying out roots and damaging the plant. Apply approximately 2 inches of water each week, keeping soil moist at the surface. Retain soil moisture and reduce watering frequency by applying a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch.