Raspberry bushes tend to be very easy to grow in gardens, but there is one task you need to do in May to ensure you get the best berries possible. A gardener known as The Real Farmhouse has said that raspberries need to be fertilised at some point soon when blossom begins growing on the plant.
She said, “If you want huge, sweet berries, then you have to FEED THEM when they are hungry. And when are they most hungry? When they are putting all their energy into making fruit.
“If you don’t feed them, then they will toss out piddly little sour berries so they can get back to growing in every direction, which is what they really want to be doing.”
Raspberry blossoms begin to appear in May, and these flowers eventually grow into fruit that is perfect for picking in summer.
May is a crucial time for growing raspberries, as they need a lot of nutrients to turn into energy to ensure you get healthy blossoms, which will turn into big berries.
However, feeding raspberries does not need to be complicated, as you can help them with a good layer of compost mulch.
The gardener said: “What you need to do is generously feed them large amounts of compost right when the first blossoms appear.”
Mulching is the simple gardening practice of spreading a layer of organic matter around a plant to protect and feed it.
Simply spread the compost around the base of each raspberry bush, but do not let the mulch touch the canes, as this can restrict water flow to the plant.
Compost will slowly release nutrients into the soil to help the raspberries have the energy they need in summer.
Raspberries also tend to need a lot of potassium in spring, as it is the nutrient responsible for flower development. So, make sure to also give them a high-potassium feed, such as tomato fertiliser.
Once you have fed raspberries, give them a deep watering to ensure the compost mixes into the soil, and keep them well watered until they are ready to be harvested.
The expert said, “Raspberries love water. They will do okay without tons of it, but there is no way you will get the size and taste of berries that you should be getting.
“I water my raspberries, with a drip system (always a drip system in my garden), every three or four days, VERY DEEP. Which means I soak them for multiple hours on the days that I water. I practically flood them.”
Taking the time to fertilise raspberries and then water them properly in May will ensure you get big berries that will burst with flavour once summer arrives.