Another popular small fruit for backyard gardens are raspberries. Red, black, purple, and yellow fruit types are available. Almost all raspberries bear fruit on 2-year-old canes, then the cane dies. This calls for ongoing pruning as a regular care practice when growing raspberries. Both summer bearing and everbearing (June, Fall) varieties are available - except in the case of black raspberries. Red raspberries tend not to show virus symptoms if infected but aphids can still spread the virus to Black raspberries that tend to be very susceptible. Plant black raspberries away from red raspberries but if you have a limited space, always plant black raspberries upwind from the red raspberries so that aphids are not blown by wind from red to black raspberries.

Cultivars:

Red Raspberry

• Boyne is harvested in Summer. Adapted to region north of Interstate 80. This old cultivar is very winter-hardy
• Latham is harvested in summer. Adapted to regions between Interstate 80 and Interstate 70, as well as north of Interstate 80. This old cultivar is relatively thornless and dependable.
• Heritage is harvested in fall. It grows in all areas of the state. It is widely adapted, erect, very dependable, firm berries, good flavor, susceptible to Phytophthora.

Yellow Raspberry

• Anne is harvested in fall. It grows in all areas of the state and features large fruit.
• Fall Gold is harvested in fall and spring. It grows in all areas of the state and features conical-shaped fruit

Black Raspberry

• Bristol is harvested in spring. It grows in central and southern Illinois and features medium to large fruit.
• Jewel is harvested in spring. It grows in all areas of the state and has the largest fruits of the black raspberry cultivars.
• Haut is harvested in spring. It grows in central and southern Illinois and has very good flavor.

Purple Raspberry

• Brandywine is harvested in spring. It grows in all areas of the state and has large fruit that is good for jams and jellies.
• Royalty is harvested in spring. It grows in all areas of the state and is the best-flavored purple raspberry. It can be picked when red to resemble the flavor of a red raspberry or left to darken and develop a flavor more like a black raspberry.

• Raspberries belong to the genus Rubus, which is a part of the Rose family. Cultivated raspberries have been derived mainly from two species, the wild red raspberry (Rubus ideaus) and black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis). Purple type is a cross between the black and red raspberry, and yellow type is a mutant red raspberry.
• Raspberries' underground root stem and crown are perennial, and canes from underground buds are biennial — primocanes (first year canes) and floricanes (canes in second year).
• There are over 200 species of raspberries.
• Raspberries can be grown from the Arctic to the equator.
• Receptacle remains on plant when fruit is harvested leaving a hole at the bottom of the fruit.
• Fruits are red, yellow, orange, purple or black.
• 60-70 pints of fruits can be harvested from 100 feet row.
• Raspberries can be harvested from early summer through fall.
• Raspberries are sold in pound units.

• Average yield per acre in Illinois varies. For example, black raspberries yield 2,000 pounds/acre and red raspberries yield 4,000 pounds/acre.