Once the most popular red raspberry in America, Rubus 'Willamette' Raspberry remains a favorite for home gardens where big yields and rich, tender flavor are prized. Grow this superb Oregon native for yourself and discover true raspberry taste. Dark red and very large, these berries arise by the thousands in midsummer on tall, vigorous canes. Rubus 'Willamette' Raspberry will need support as it grows upward, and can reach 10 feet high in the right climate. Small, plentiful spring blooms of pure white give you a good indication of the riches to come. Rubus 'Willamette' Raspberry shrub is very vigorous. Raspberries like full sun and good air circulation. They do best in enriched garden soil that is moisture retentive but well-drained. Plant about 3 feet apart in the row, or train up a trellis. Plant about 1 inch deep in heavy soils, 2 inches in loose, sandy soils. For best growth, cut back immediately after planting, to prevent the plant from setting fruit the first year. This will give you much stronger growth and better harvests in years to come. Water well during growth, and consider mulching to conserve water until the following spring, when the mulch should be removed to let the plants warm up. In winter, cut back to about 5 canes per crown.
