Red raspberries are one of the most reliable, beginner-friendly fruiting plants you can grow. They’re productive, adaptable, and once established, they settle into a steady rhythm of growth and harvest without needing much ongoing input.

This guide applies to both Prelude (early season summer) and Heritage (summer + fall bearing) red raspberries. 

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full to half sun

• Average, well-draining soil

• Space to spread (they will form a patch over time)

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole wide enough to comfortably spread the roots

2. Set the plant at the same depth it was in the pot

3. Backfill and water thoroughly

4. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch (woodchips, shredded leaves, or straw) around plants after to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Spacing

• About 2–3 feet between plants

• Rows (if doing multiple) about 6–8 feet apart

Raspberries naturally spread through underground runners, so what starts as a single plant will gradually fill in. A double line of wire or twine on each side can serve as a trellis to make harvesting easier. 

First Year Care

The goal in year one is simple: establish roots.

• Water regularly the first 2-3 weeks after planting

• For the rest of the first year, water deeply (approx. 5 gallons per plant) each week if it hasn’t rained

• Keep grass and heavy weeds from crowding the base

You may see some fruit the first year, especially with Heritage, but the plant is putting almost all of its energy into getting strong roots established.

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

Once established, raspberries are low-maintenance.

Each year:

• New canes will come up from the ground

• Older canes will fruit and then fade out

Your main jobs:

• Remove dead canes (usually obvious by lighter color and brittleness)

• Thin if the patch becomes too dense

• Harvest regularly during the season

They don’t need perfect care to produce well. In fact, they tend to do better when left to settle into a natural rhythm.

Harvest

Pick when berries separate easily from the plant.

Harvest frequently during peak season for best quality and yield. Every other day has been a good rhythm for us.

Variety Notes

Heritage Red Raspberry is a double-cropping (everbearing) raspberry, which gives you two options:

Option 1 (simplest):

• Cut all canes to the ground in late winter

• You’ll get one larger fall crop

Option 2 (two harvests):

• Leave canes standing through winter

• They’ll produce a small summer crop on last year’s canes, which can be cut down after

• A smaller fall crop will form on the year’s new growth

Black raspberries are highly productive and thrive on near neglect well once established. This guide applies to both Jewel and Mac Black black raspberries.

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full to half sun

• Average, well-draining soil

• Good air circulation

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole wide enough to comfortably spread the roots

2. Set the plant at the same depth it was in the pot or slightly deeper

3. Backfill and water thoroughly

4. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch (woodchips, shredded leaves, or straw) around plants after to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Spacing

• About 3-4 feet between plants

• Rows (if doing multiple) about 6–8 feet apart

Black raspberries will form a clumping patch rather than spreading by runners like red raspberries.

First Year Care

The goal in year one is simple: establish roots.

• Water regularly the first 2-3 weeks after planting

• For the rest of the first year, water deeply (approx. 5 gallons per plant) each week if it hasn’t rained

• Keep grass and heavy weeds from crowding the base

Canes may grow long in the first year but typically do not produce significant fruit.

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

Black raspberries fruit on second-year canes.

Annual maintenance:

• In fall through early spring, remove canes that produced fruit (usually obvious by duller and/or peeling appearance) and thinner canes leaving 5-7 per clump

• Loosely tying each clump of canes to a stake or t-post will make harvest more pleasant

• Prune back tall canes to 4-6’ tall in late summer to encourage side shoot growth (that’s where the berries grow)

Harvest

Berries are deeply colored and detach easily when ripe. Harvest frequently during peak season for best quality.

Mac Black ripens a couple weeks after Jewel. Plant both for a longer picking season!

Strawberries - the quintessential summer fruit! Will gradually fill in via runners and form a productive patch.

This guide applies to both Jewel (June-bearing) and Seascape (everbearing/day-neutral) strawberries.

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full sun (best production)

• Well-draining soil

• Space for runners to spread or managed rows

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole deep enough for roots to spread downward without bending

2. Set crown of plant at soil level (do not bury crown!)

3. Backfill and gently firm soil

4. Water thoroughly after planting

5. Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around plants (straw is ideal)

Spacing

• For Jewel, 12–18 in. between plants

• For Seascape, 8-12 in. between plants

First Year Care

• Water regularly

• Pinching off the first set of flowers is highly recommended for strong root establishment

• Remove weeds to reduce competition

Since Jewel only flowers once, it will not fruit the first year. Seascape will give a smaller crop in late summer/fall of its first year. 

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

Strawberries spread and renew themselves through runners.

Annual maintenance:

• Maintain mulch layer to keep fruit clean and reduce weed pressure

• Thin overcrowded areas every few years

Harvest

Pick when berries are fully red, but before they turn soft. 

Harvest every 1–3 days during peak season. Frequent picking encourages continued production!

Variety Notes

Jewel Strawberry (June-bearing)

• Produces one main heavy crop in early summer

• Best for large batch preserving

Seascape Strawberry (Everbearing / Day-neutral)

• Produces multiple flushes throughout the season, usually with a small break during the hottest summer months

• Good for extended fresh eating season

American elderberries are fast-growing, 8-12’ multi-stemmed shrubs that produce clusters of dark berries in late summer. They are highly resilient and productive, but will often give more fruit with 2 or more plants for increased pollination.

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full sun to partial shade

• Tolerant of wet soil

Planting Steps

1. Dig hole twice as wide as root system

2. Set plant at same depth as container

3. Backfill and firm soil gently

4. Water thoroughly after planting

5. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch around base

Spacing

• 6–10 feet between plants

First Year Care

• Water regularly for first 2–3 weeks

• Continue watering weekly during dry periods

Growth will focus on establishing strong root and stem structure.

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

If you'd like to maintain a smaller size for easier picking:

• In late winter, remove oldest canes at ground level

• Thin to maintain 6–10 strong canes per plant

• Prune anywhere from 3-4' tall down to ground level

But pruning is totally optional! No maintenance required. 

Harvest

Harvest entire clusters when berries are dark purple/black in late summer. Make an incredible jelly or medicinal syrup!

Gooseberries are hardy, long-lived fruiting shrubs that once had a place in every kitchen garden. A historic treasure worth bringing back!

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full sun to partial shade

• Well-draining soil

• Some airflow preferred

Planting Steps

1. Dig hole wide enough to spread roots

2. Set plant at same depth as container

3. Backfill and firm soil gently

4. Water thoroughly

5. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch around base

Spacing

• 3–5 feet between plants

First Year Care

• Water regularly for first 2–3 weeks

• Continue weekly watering during dry periods

• Keep weeds and grass from competing at base

Plants focus on root establishment first. Invisible to us, but there is a lot going on down there! Once roots are established, top growth will often take off quickly.

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

Gooseberries fruit on older wood.

Occasionally prune out oldest canes as needed if shrub becomes too crowded.

Harvest

Fruit ripens in early to mid-summer. Pick when berries are fully colored and slightly soft. They should be sweet and pleasant to eat fresh when fully ripe.

Juneberries (also known as serviceberries) are native, long-lived, and produce early summer berries similar in taste to blueberries. Beautiful white spring blossoms are the cherry on top. Available in multi-stemmed shrub or tree form.

Planting Instructions

Site Selection

• Full to half sun

• Average, well-draining soil

Planting Steps

1. Dig hole twice as wide as root ball

2. Set plant at same depth as container

3. Backfill and firm soil

4. Water thoroughly after planting

5. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch around base

Spacing

• 10–15 feet between plants

• Can plant smaller, understory plants closer, as the canopy structure provides a lovely dappled shade

First Year Care

• Water regularly for first 2–3 weeks

• Continue weekly watering during dry periods

• Protect young plants from rabbits or deer in winter

Growth is slow to moderate in the first year or two while roots establish.
The common saying “ Year one, they sleep. Year two, they creep. Year three, they leap.” applies here.

Ongoing Care (Year 2 and beyond)

Once established, Juneberries are low-maintenance. May prune to desired shape (multi-stemmed or single trunk).

Harvest

Harvest when deep purple and slightly soft. Often used fresh, baked, or preserved.

All of the perennial herbs we sell are hardy and require little maintenance after establishment. 

Plant  + keep well watered for the first couple months.

After that, harvest and enjoy!

Note: mints are rapid spreaders and many prefer to plant in pots so they do not crowd out nearby plants!