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Container Gardening #822764

Asked March 18, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

Hello! I was considering purchasing a large 17'' metal raised garden bed to grow raspberries this summer. I wanted to contain the raspberry patch as it is near a busy road that has ample salt during winter road maintenance. Being a container garden will the overwinter of raspberry plants be a good idea or will they not be hardy enough to overwinter?

St. Louis County Minnesota

Expert Response

That size container is too small for growing and overwintering raspberries. Growing raspberries in containers would be very challenging in our climate. First there is the need for a very large container with at least 12 inches of soil on all sides (24x24 inches by 36 inches deep would be minimum.) Good drainage holes would be necessary.

Second raspberries are heavy feeders and it is difficult to keep potted plants fully fertilized because every time you water you are pushing fertilizer out. That said if you choose a large container that is about an inch thick, choose a dwarf type of berry, fertilize and water regularly, and provide extra winter protection such as allowing them to go dormant in an unheated garage or surrounding them with straw bales they may survive.
Read the following information at the U of M website to understand the requirements of different types of raspberries.
See:
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-raspberries-home-garden
MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied March 19, 2023, 4:54 PM EDT
Would it be alright to grow the raspberries in this particular area in the ground to better overwinter?  Would the salt from winter road maintenance be an issue?  Thank you for your advice!
Best
Ashley

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2023, at 3:54 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied March 19, 2023, 10:03 PM EDT
Raspberries would not do well there because they are very sensitive to salt and not recommended for areas where salt is an issue.  The following is a very technical explanation of why this is so.

https://extension.sdstate.edu/sites/default/files/2020-04/P-00157.pdf
MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied March 20, 2023, 9:20 AM EDT

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