The Black Raspberry Kit consists of:
Berry Mix
Volcanic Rock Dust
Pine Bark Mulch
Dig a 50cm square hole and mix acid compost, potting soil if planting in a pot or any good draining soil for planting in the ground, and a bag of our Berry Mix.
Place the plant directly into the soil mixture and cover it with a mulch of pine bark or pine needles 5 – 15cm thick.
Raspberries thrive in moisture-retentive, fertile, slightly acidic soils, which are well-drained and weed-free. Well-decomposed compost should preferably be mixed with the soil before planting.
Mulch – Use pine bark and green pine needles around the base of the plant, not near the stems. Watering – In very hot weather, once a day, a couple of times a week. Do not overwater, as this causes root rot. Black Raspberries can be planted anytime, provided the soil is not waterlogged.
Fertilising – Once in spring and again in summer with an ultra-slow release, organic fertiliser. Our berry fertiliser is an optional extra!
Pruning – Cut back dead canes during winter. Prune canes that have borne fruit to promote new growth. Pests – As Raspberries produce hardwood canes, watch out for borer.
PLEASE NOTE: Mulch of pine bark or pine needles is a great way to lower the pH of the soil and to add organic matter, but please make sure when using it as a mulch on top of the soil not to have it touching the branches of the plant. This may cause the branches to rot and get infected, especially with new (one and two-year-old branches).
