We live in southern Minnesota and want put some raspberry bushes in the backyard, being new to gardening should we wait until next spring or could they establish themselves well enough during the hot summer months to survive the winter without expert attention?
Depends on the part of MN you are in. I’m in New England, zone 5B. MN ranges from zones 3-5. You can plant them now, but may or may not get any fruit from them before this year’s frost. Some varieties fruit twice in a growing season, some don’t, and new plants rarely produce in the first season.
I planted a single small cane in my front yard 3 years ago. I got nothing in year 1 because I planted it in September/October. Next season I got some small canes and a few berries. Last year I got more berries and a couple more canes. This year the canes are finally coming up full height, and I’m expecting a pint or more berries in late summer. I get a couple snacks each day I check my garden.
My intent is to break up my front yard into a fruit forest/garden, since I hate mowing crab grass and hate the concept of a mono-culture grass-only front lawn. It never grows like that anyways, so I embrace the diversity.
If you let the others in this thread scare you about them “taking over” or being too thorny, just know you can always prune (or dig), and there are varieties that are less thorny.
I’m in 4b. What fruits are you considering? I am of the same opinion on lawns, except for maybe a small patch in the front yard in front of the house. I’ve got loads of room for fruits and veggies though.
So far I have raspberries, a cherry tree, and a peach tree. I also have a blueberry bush in a container.