Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Environment

The bounded range this crop tolerates.

Temperature

5°C15°C25°C35°C

-30–26°C

pH

45.578.5

5.5–6.5

EC (hydro)

01234

1.2–1.8 mS/cm

Daily light

515253545

20–30 mol/m²/d

Continuous harvest

Climate and zones

USDA zones: 3–9 (winter low around -40°C)
Frost: very hardy (survives deep cold)
Season: cool (spring/fall)

Outdoor year-round (in zone)

Outdoor in growing season

Unheated greenhouse / hoop

Heated greenhouse

Indoor (heated home)

Indoor hydroponics + grow lights

Growing systems

Root mass: heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.

Deep water culture (rafts)

NFT channels

Vertical / aeroponic tower

Drip / Dutch buckets

Media bed (ebb and flow)

Wicking bed

Soil bed

Growing media

Medium	pH effect	Retention	Bacterial surface
Soil-based mix (Potting soil)	varies	high	high

Nutrient demand by stage

NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.

Stage	N	P	K	EC (mS/cm)
seedling	2	1	1	1
vegetative	2	1	2	1.4
flowering	1	1	2	1.6
fruiting	1	1	3	1.6

Companion-growing notes

Heavy uptake of potassium. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.

Aquaponics suitability

Not recommended

Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.

Care notes

Feasible in large container hydroponic systems (40 L per plant) with coir or perlite media. Primocane-fruiting varieties are strongly recommended for hydroponic/aquaponics because they fruit on first-year growth, simplifying management. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-6.5 (slightly acidic preferred). Temperature: 15–25°C for growth and fruiting; most varieties need some winter chill (200-800 hours below 7°C). High light (DLI 18-25 mol/m2/day). Trellis or stake system for cane support. Harvest when berries are fully colored and detach from the receptacle with a gentle tug. Each mature plant produces 1–3 kg of fruit per season. The extremely high retail value ($12-25/kg) and short shelf life make locally grown raspberries economically attractive for direct-to-consumer sales. For aquaponics growers with outdoor space, raspberry canes in large containers irrigated with system effluent produce well and yield a premium product.

Notable varieties

Cultivar	Type	Origin	Days	Notes
Heritage	open pollinated	Cornell University, 1969	365	Primocane (everbearing). Reliable late-summer through fall crop on first-year canes; can give a second smaller summer crop the next year on the same canes. The most-planted home garden raspberry in North America.
Latham	open pollinated	Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1920	365	Floricane summer-bearing. Extremely cold-hardy (zones 3-7). The Northern Tier classic.
Caroline	open pollinated	USDA, 1997	365	Primocane, larger and sweeter than Heritage. Heat-tolerant; works in zone 7-8 where Heritage softens in summer.
Tulameen	open pollinated	Agriculture Canada, 1989	365	Floricane summer-bearing, large fruit (3-4 g), exceptional flavor. The 'gourmet' raspberry. Less productive than Heritage but the fruit quality is what farmers' market premium varieties are.
Anne	open pollinated	University of Maryland, 1998	365	Yellow-fruited primocane. Pale yellow, sweet, the color makes it striking in mixed berry plates. Same culture as red varieties.