Preserve the Harvest Series: Let's Talk Raspberries

by Shari@puregrace

Preserve the Harvest Series presents a new fruit or vegetable every Tuesday with the goal of helping you get the most out of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested during peak season. Preserving the harvest stocks your pantry shelves and freezer with whole foods that you can feel good about, foods that taste great, and this approach saves you money. A sane approach to sustainability! Next up, raspberries.

raspberries harvest preserve garden, gardening

Let's Talk Raspberries.

The Raspberry plant is a perennial with woody stems and edible fruit. There are multiple varieties of raspberry plants each producing a berry that is unique and colorful.

The red raspberry is the most popular and is by far the largest crop of commercially grown raspberries. If you are fortunate enough to have a farmers market nearby, you may find black, blue, yellow and golden raspberries for sale. All the raspberries are similar in taste with a very distinctive rich raspberry flavor.

If you plan on growing raspberries, it’s a good thing to think about what type of crop you want to have. Raspberry plants are either Summer bearers (grow one crop per season in the summer) or ever-bearers (two crops grown in the spring and fall). I have both types planted.

My raspberries begin producing in late spring and I have continuous berries all the way until fall. Raspberries prefer cooler climates but are adaptable and can be grown almost anywhere. They are relatively easy to grow, but must be tended to regularly so they do not get out of hand. Pruning is a must to get good fruit production. It is not difficult, but can not be neglected.

Raspberries should be stored in a single layer in a moisture proof container. Do not rinse berries until they are ready to be eaten. Fresh raspberries will store in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Raspberries may be frozen with great results. To freeze, rinse berries lightly and place on paper towel to soak up extra moisture. Arrange raspberries on baking sheet in single layer and place in freezer until frozen solid. Once frozen, remove berries and place in heavy duty freezer bag or use vacuum sealer. Frozen berries can be stored up to a year.

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4 comments

Luis on Jul 22, 2014
I love raspberries, I gather wild ones every summer and make ice cream with them

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- Shari@puregrace on Jul 22, 2014
  @Luis We had homemade ice cream last night with raspberries and it was so good. I can imagine the wild raspberries are pretty amazing.
  
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- Luis on Jul 22, 2014
  @Shari@puregrace Not easy to find but I dohave a secret patch in the middle of a forest, I bet your ice cream was amazing, Yum
  
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- Shari@puregrace on Jul 23, 2014
  @Luis it was :)
  
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