Summer raspberries or autumn raspberries - red, yellow or black fruits - tall and low raspberry bushes with and without thorns: With the large number of different raspberry varieties, making the right choice is not easy. A little decision-making aid for choosing raspberries for your garden.
What different types of raspberries are there?
There are numerous varieties of raspberries, which differ in summer and autumn raspberries and in color. Examples of popular varieties include: red summer raspberries such as 'Meeker' and 'Elida', yellow summer raspberries such as 'Golden Queen', red autumn raspberries such as 'Aroma Queen' and 'Polka', yellow autumn raspberries such as 'Alpengold' and 'Herbstgold', and black ones Raspberries such as 'Black Diamond' and 'Bristol'.
Advantages and disadvantages of summer raspberries
Summer raspberries only grow on two-year-old canes. The fruits ripen from June to July. The harvest is usually more plentiful than autumn raspberries.
The early varieties are more susceptible to diseases and pest infestation. Summer raspberries are often infested with raspberry beetle maggots. They must therefore be continually checked for diseases and pest infestation.
Since only the two-year-old canes of summer raspberries are always cut back, cane disease can spread more easily.
Popular summer raspberry varieties
Red summer raspberries
- “Meeker” – is very commonly grown
- “Schönemann” – dark red, late summer raspberry
- “Elida” – ripens at the beginning of June
- “Glen Ample” – thornless, medium red fruits
- “Tulameen” – dark red raspberries
- “Rubaca” – medium late ripening, medium red raspberry
- “Glen Coe” – no spines, purple fruits
- “Framita” – thornless, dark red raspberry
Yellow summer raspberries
- “Golden Queen” – robust summer raspberries, golden fruits
- “Yellow Antwerp” – low growth, does not need to be tied
- “Fallgold” – ripens in July
Advantages and disadvantages of autumn raspberries
Autumn raspberries already bear on one-year-old canes and ripen from August. They can be harvested several times a week until frost. The yield is lower than that of summer raspberries. The fruits are also not quite as aromatic.
Pruning autumn raspberries is much easier because all shoots are cut back. This means that tail disease occurs less frequently.
Since the raspberry beetle no longer lays eggs when the autumn raspberries are in bloom, the fruits are largely free of maggots.
Popular autumn raspberry varieties
Red autumn raspberries
- “Aroma Queen” – high yield
- “Autumn Bliss” – aromatic (€15.00 at Amazon), can be grown in a pot
- “Bakker’s Jewel” – ideal for processing
- “Polka” – very firm fruits
- “Pokusa” – large beads
- “Himbotop” – very well-known, aromatic variety
Yellow autumn raspberries
- “Alpengold” – thornless
- “Autumn Amber” – apricot colored
- “Autumn Gold” – honey colored
- “Golden Everest” – robust variety with large fruits
- “Golden Bliss” – yellow-orange raspberries
- “Goldmarie” – old country variety, very aromatic
Black Raspberries
Black raspberries are a special case. They cannot be clearly assigned to summer or autumn raspberries. They ripen later than summer raspberries but earlier than the late varieties.
Well-known black raspberry varieties are:
- “Black Diamond” – very robust raspberry
- “Bristol” – deep black, late summer raspberry
- “Black Jewel” – violet-black fruits with a slight gray veil.
Two-Timer Raspberries Wear Twice
The most famous two-timer raspberry is “Sugana”. It is not only ideal for growing in the garden, but also as a container plant.
The variety bears medium red fruits, which you can harvest for the first time from June and the second time from August.
Tips & Tricks
If you grow summer and autumn raspberries in the garden at the same time, you should definitely plant them separately. This makes maintenance easier because you know exactly which canes you need to cut back and when.