Rubus Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake®

Meet Rubus Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake®, the first-ever dwarf raspberry for containers. This breakthrough was developed by the Brazelton family of Oregon, renowned fruit growers that have been at it for decades. The Bushel and Berry® series is self-pollinating, so you need plant only one of any of the varieties for fruit. But chances are, once you see the Bushel and Berry® plants in your garden, you'll simply have to have several.

Rubus Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake® is a midsummer (late June/early July) thornless variety with full-sized, yummy red fruit on plants that reach just 2 to 3 feet high and wide and have a dense, compact, and tightly mounded habit. Say goodbye to rangy canes that flop all over the place and to punctured hands at harvest time. Raspberry Shortcake® looks as good as its full-sized, bright red fruit tastes.

These berries have a flavor described as "vanilla essence," very sweet and meltingly tender. You can enjoy handfuls straight from the patio or even the urban balcony with Raspberry Shortcake®. And the plant always looks good, remaining dense and healthy.

Caring for Rubus Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake® is easy. It loves well-drained, neutral soil (pH 6.5 - 7.5 is best) in full sunshine everywhere but the hottest climates. If you are growing it in a container, pick a big one—anything 24 inches in diameter or larger is preferred, since this perennial will keep setting new canes and spreading.

Feed Rubus Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake® with a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of spring and again later in the season. Water it daily in containers. When winter arrives, it will go dormant, and should be left alone. The following spring, you'll begin to see green growth. Midway through spring, when the new growth is well-established, cut away any stems that do not show new growth. That's all there is to it.

Raspberries like full sun and good air circulation. They do best in enriched garden soil that is moisture retentive but well-drained. Plant about 3 feet apart in the row, or train up a trellis. Plant about 1 inch deep in heavy soils, 2 inches in loose, sandy soils. For best growth, cut back immediately after planting, to prevent the plant from setting fruit the first year. This will give you much stronger growth and better harvests in years to come. Water well during growth, and consider mulching to conserve water until the following spring, when the mulch should be removed to let the plants warm up.