How to Choose a Raspberry Plant

Decide what color raspberry you want. Some varieties produce fruit that is red, while others bear fruit that is yellow, purple or black. Your location may determine your choice. Black and purple raspberries are larger and tolerant of heat, but are less resistant to cold temperatures. Red raspberries are the hardiest type.

Determine whether you want a summer-bearing raspberry plant or an ever-bearing plant. Raspberry varieties that only produce a crop early in the summer are called summer-bearing raspberries, while raspberries that produce fruit in the early summer and a second crop in the fall are called ever-bearing raspberries. Ever-bearing raspberries, in general, require less care than summer-bearing types. Most ever-bearing raspberries are red or yellow.

Learn what varieties of raspberry are appropriate for your region. Determine the hardiness zone you live in and choose a cultivar suitable for your location. For instance, if you live in a colder region, you want to choose a variety that is winter hardy. Red raspberries do well in cooler regions, but black and purple raspberries lack the hardiness thrive too far north. Inquire at the place where you purchase your raspberry plant for advice regarding cultivars suited to your area. You can also contact your local county extension office for recommendations.

Select a variety based on the criteria you've come up with. Examples of summer-bearing red varieties include Liberty, Lantham, Newburgh and Sentry. Summer-bearing black varieties include Allen, Black Hawk and Bristol. Brandywine and Royalty are summer-bearing purple raspberry varieties. Examples of red ever-bearing varieties are Heritage and Redwing. Fall Gold is a yellow ever-bearing variety.