How to Grow Raspberries Indoors
Tip
Always try to obtain raspberry plants that are resistant to common raspberry diseases such as verticillium wilt and raspberry mosaic.
Raspberries are favorite summertime fruits. With a sweet and slightly tart flavor, the red berries contain high levels of antioxidants that are helpful to cardiovascular health. With respect to growers with very limited space, it is possible to grow raspberry plants indoors in a container as long as certain conditions are met that will keep the plant healthy and fruitful. One benefit of growing raspberries indoors is the free access to fresh berries no matter the time of year.
Plant the raspberry plant in an indoors spot where the sun provides six to eight hours of direct light daily.
Prepare a container to house the raspberry plant. One raspberry plant will grow comfortably in a container with a diameter of 15 inches. Put the container in the sunny area, and add 2 inches of pea gravel into the bottom. Place a drainage tray under the container to catch the water runoff and prevent root rot.
Pour into the raspberry container an equal mixture of perlite, peat moss and bagged potting soil until the container is three-fourths full. Mix the contents with a garden spade to blend. Add 2 cups water to the mix and blend again with the spade. Pour additional water into the soil if the 2 cups did not thoroughly moisten the mix.
Dig a hole in the center of the container large enough to contain the entire raspberry plant’s root ball. Sprinkle 1 cup of aged manure into the planting hole and blend it into the soil at the bottom of the hole. Allow the manure to absorb into the soil for one week before planting the raspberry plant.
Remove the raspberry plant from all packaging surrounding the root ball and plant it in the container’s hole. Insert a wire cage with 4-inch openings into the soil, encircling the container’s rim, to provide support for the raspberry plant as it grows taller and bushier.
Cover the container soil with 2 inches of wood chips to retain the moisture within the soil after each watering.
Water the raspberry plant until the water drains from the bottom of the container. Keep the soil moist by watering two or three times weekly.
Harvest the fresh raspberries when they ripen to a dark red or burgundy color.
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Writer Bio
Dustin Alan began his writing career in 2000 where he was began writing for “Times Record." His work is featured in “Arkansas Home and Garden," “Green Thumb," Home Step Ahead and DIYImprove. Alan attended Arkansas State University and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
