By Alisha Asleson

Master Gardener

As summer winds down and most berries fade from the garden, fall-bearing raspberries take center stage. Also known as everbearing raspberries, these vigorous plants produce fruit on the current season’s growth, allowing for a harvest in late summer through early fall.

Fall-bearing raspberries can offer sweet rewards when other crops are wrapping up. Here’s what you need to know to grow them—and the best cultivars to plant. 

Unlike summer-bearing types that fruit once a year on second-year canes, fall-bearing raspberries fruit on new canes (called primocanes). This means you can get fruit in the first year of planting, and continue harvesting into  or even October, depending on the temperatures. 

Looking for the best raspberries to plant? Here are a couple of common favorites: 

Heritage is a reliable classic that has a heavy yield of medium to large red berries that are bursting with flavor starting at the end of August until frost. 

Caroline ripens earlier than ‘Heritage’ in mid-August and has sweet berries with great texture that are resistant to disease and can tolerate that end of summer heat. 

Fall-bearing raspberries are relatively easy to grow, but a few basic guidelines can help you get the best crop possible:

• Sunlight: Plant in full sun (6–8 hours daily)

• Soil: Loose, rich, and well-drained; slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5)

• Watering: Keep soil moist during growing and fruiting season

• Pruning: For a fall-only crop, cut all canes to the ground in late winter

• Spacing: About 2–3 feet apart in rows

• Mulch: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Space plants well and give them support with a trellis or post system as they grow. With proper care, you’ll enjoy fruit in the first year and heavy crops for years to come.

Whether you’re aiming to fill your freezer, stock your pantry with jam, or simply snack in the garden, fall raspberries are a sweet way to end the growing season.