As people start to examine the issue of personal health more closely, many of them will try to find ways to improve their diets. One of the simplest steps is to start eating more fruits. Right now more people are warming to the idea of growing their own fruits for a variety of reasons. One of the more popular choices is the black raspberry.

About Black Raspberry

The black raspberry Ideaus Rubus is the cultivated variety of this plant. This is not to be confused with the Rubus occidentalis which grows wild and is most common in the eastern part of North America. Ideaus Rubus which is grown in many nurseries is said to produce fruit that is superior in nutritional content to the occidentalis variety.

Buying Raspberry Plants

As with many other types of plants, the black raspberry plant can be bought wholesale from a nursery. Since their yields tend to be low, it makes sense to have more than one plant. Their low yields explain the fact the fruit tends to be expensive. Choose a nursery that has a reputation of delivering quality plants.

Buying them from a store instead of a nursery can sometimes mean getting plants that have already endured excessive handling leading to the plants being damaged. In these cases the plant may not produce quality fruit and may even fail to blossom. This problem can be significantly minimized by getting the plants from a reputable nursery. In addition, in a nursery you can get information on how to care for the plants and how to get the highest yields possible.

Transplanting and Caring Your Black Raspberry Plant

After buying your black raspberry plants the next step is to transplant them. You should have already set aside an area for this but some work needs to be done before transplanting can begin. Make sure the area is free from weeds and that the soil is healthy. If plants were in that area before that did not grow properly, then there may be a problem with the soil. If possible have the soil tested to make sure there are no diseases that will harm your raspberry plants.

The best time to transplant black raspberries is in the spring. Be sure to water them immediately after transplanting them. Some people like to prune their black raspberry plants after transplantation but seek advice from the nursery on this. The soil should be deep and well drained as the roots can grow as much as 4 feet.

The black raspberry plant requires plenty of sunlight and about 2 inches of water weekly. It is recommended that you always water at the base of the plant rather than to pour water over the whole plant. They will need a good flow of air, but avoid putting them in the path of a strong wind. Do not plant them close to wild plants so as to avoid them getting any type of infection.

Pruning is also important as it makes room for new growth and helps to prevent viral infections. The nursery that you buy from should be able to offer guidance on this. You should only prune your black raspberry plant after harvesting the fruit. Given the high nutritional value of black raspberries, it is a good choice for any home garden. Take care of your plants and they will provide healthy yields for years to come.