Large, Sweet Red Berries on a Nearly Thornless Late-Summer Cane Encore Raspberry (Rubus idaeus 'Encore') is a summer-bearing (floricane) variety that ripens its big, firm, sweet red berries later than most summer types — extending the main raspberry season. The upright, nearly thornless canes are easy to pick, and it's self-fertile and zone 4 hardy. Whether you're starting a berry patch in Edina, filling a sunny row in Maple Grove, or stretching the harvest in Woodbury — Encore brings late-summer raspberries to zone 4b–5a gardens. Encore Raspberry Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Rubus idaeus 'Encore' Plant Type Summer-bearing (floricane) raspberry; cane fruit Mature Height 5–6 feet; benefits from a trellis Sun Full sun (6+ hours) for the sweetest berries Water Moderate — 1–2 inches per week; shallow roots dislike drying out USDA Zones 4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) Soil Rich, well-draining; amend Minnesota clay-loam with compost. Avoid wet feet. Pollination Self-fertile — a single plant will fruit Bearing Type Summer-bearing/floricane — fruits on second-year canes; late season Harvest Late summer; large, firm, sweet red berries; nearly thornless Winter Hardiness Reliable to zone 4 Encore Raspberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens Extending the summer harvest Encore ripens late among summer-bearers, so pairing it with an earlier variety stretches the picking season in a Plymouth garden. Easy-picking rows Its sturdy, nearly thornless, upright canes make for comfortable harvesting along a trellised row in Eden Prairie. Fresh eating and preserving Large, firm, flavorful berries are excellent fresh, frozen, or in jam. Best Time to Plant Encore Raspberry in Minnesota Spring (late April–May) is the best window, giving canes a full season to establish. Early fall planting can work in a sheltered spot. Never plant after mid-October. How to Plant Encore Raspberry Choose a full-sun, well-drained site away from wild brambles (which can spread disease). Dig wide, not deep; backfill with native soil mixed with compost. Space plants 2–3 feet apart in rows; install a T-trellis since these canes grow tall. Set the crown at soil level and water in well. Mulch 3–4 inches with straw or shredded bark, kept off the canes. As a floricane type, do not mow it down — see pruning below. Watering Encore Raspberry in Minnesota First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow Month 1–2: Every 4–5 days Month 3–6: 1–2 inches per week, especially during fruiting Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities). After Year One Keep evenly moist during flowering and fruiting for plump berries. Shallow roots mean steady moisture and mulch matter. How do I prune a summer-bearing raspberry? Encore fruits on second-year canes (floricanes). After a cane fruits, cut it to the ground; leave the current season's new green canes to overwinter and fruit next summer. Don't mow everything down — that would remove next year's crop. Is it really thornless? Nearly so — the canes are smooth and easy to handle compared with most raspberries. Will it survive a Minnesota winter? Yes — hardy to zone 4. In exposed sites, mulch the base and consider a windbreak; the canes must survive winter to fruit. You May Also Like Heritage Raspberry — a reliable red everbearer Joan J Raspberry — a thornless red everbearer Anne Raspberry — a sweet yellow everbearer How Many Encore Raspberries Do I Need? Plant canes 2–3 ft apart in a trellised row; they fill in by suckering, so a short row quickly becomes a patch. Row Length Plants Needed (~2.5 ft spacing) 10 ft 5 15 ft 7 20 ft 9 25 ft 11 Encore Raspberry Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Overwintered floricanes leaf out; new green primocanes push from the base. Summer: Flowers feed bees, then large, firm, sweet red berries ripen later than most summer types, stretching the harvest. Fall: Canes that fruited can be cut to the ground; foliage colors and drops. Winter: Dormant; this year's primocanes must overwinter to fruit next summer, so a sheltered, mulched site helps in exposed yards. At a Glance ✔ Edible ✔ Pollinator-Friendly Plant It With Heritage Raspberry — an everbearer that crops in fall, complementing Encore's late-summer floricane crop. Joan J Raspberry — thornless red berries for easy picking alongside it. Himbo Top Raspberry — huge berries and heavy yields to expand the patch. Anne Raspberry — a golden-yellow berry for color contrast in the row. Is Encore Raspberry Right for Your Yard? Encore wants full sun, rich well-drained soil, and a trellis for its tall canes — give it those and it rewards you with big late-summer berries on nearly thornless, easy-to-handle wood. Skip it if your only spot stays wet or heavily shaded, where raspberries sulk and root rot sets in.
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