As we enter into our first full week of July this season, the farm staff is especially excited to be starting the raspberry harvest. And that of course means this week’s CSA share will be including these exceptional berries as well. If you’re like me, you can never really have enough of these when they are in season. So we like-minded berry fanatics surely plan to establish our own raspberry bushes at home. That being said, I’d like to take the chance to help us familiarize a little with some facets and techniques of caring for these awesome perennials.

Most importantly, raspberries thrive best in full sun, and should see 1 to 2 deep waterings per week during the flowering and fruiting seasons. New plantings should be fertilized approximately one month after being put into the ground. For established plants, a fertilizing period around early spring is best recommended. On an important note, concentrating the fertilizer applications too close to the roots may burn the roots and kill the plant entirely. On new plantings, it’s a good idea to remove the blossoms/flowers that appear, which allows the plants to become better established by giving them a chance to utilize more energy in building a stronger root system. Raspberry plants will also appreciate being mulched to conserve more soil moisture and keep the soil much cooler.

I think one of the best ways to get the most out of your shares this week would be to simply make a dressing to pair with your RDF greens (spinach, romaine, and even more). So check out the raspberry vinaigrette recipe below.

~Frank