Bristol Black Raspberry produces abundant black raspberries mid-season with excellent flavor. The fruit is firm, large and delicious, and can be harvested in July. Whether you are eating fresh off the vine, making preserves, or freezing, you’ll have an abundance of extra flavorful berries. Bristol Black Raspberry grows as a perennial in USDA zones 5-8.
Bristol Black Raspberry Care
Plant Bristol Black Raspberry in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Select an open area where your black raspberries will have plenty of room to grow, in a full sun location for best fruit production. The mature height is 4-5 ft and 3-4 ft wide, so space plants to allow easy access to the fruit from all sides.
Growing Bristol Black Raspberry
Select a sunny area that has well-draining, nutrient-rich soil with plenty of organic matter added. Raspberries prefer a soil pH between 6 - 6.8. Bristol Black Raspberries reach heights of 4-5 ft and 3-4 ft wide and grow on very sturdy stems. If needed, provide a simple trellis to keep the heavy fruiting canes up off the ground. If growing a black raspberry patch versus a single plant, space plants approximately 3 feet apart, and avoid crowding so they don’t have to compete for sunlight and vital soil nutrients.
After planting, topdress the soil with a couple of inches of organic compost to keep weeds at bay and help retain soil moisture. Before canes bear fruit, attaching garden netting to stakes will protect your harvest from birds and other critters.
Watering Bristol Black Raspberry
Keep an eye out for dry soil, and water deeply and thoroughly weekly, particularly during the hottest summer months.
Feeding Bristol Black Raspberry
Apply a water-soluble fertilizer specifically formulated for raspberries on new or established plantings throughout the growing season. Choose a formula that strengthens roots and stimulates fruit production.
Bristol Black Raspberry Bush Information
USDA Hardiness Zones:
4 - 8
Plant Type:
Edible Plants
Light Exposure:
Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
Mature Height:
4 - 5 Feet
Mature Spread:
3 - 4 Feet
Mature Spacing:
3 - 4 Feet
Habit:
Upright
Flower Color(s):
White
Flower Description:
Bloom Period:
May
Foliage Type:
Deciduous
Foliage Color(s):
Green
Foliage Description:
Seasonal Interest:
Spring Flowering
Watering:
Average
Resists:
N/A
Tolerates:
N/A
Attracts:
Birds, Butterflies
Container Role:
Uses:
Wildlife Gardens
Features:
Attracts Pollinators, Low Maintenance
Brand:
Common Name:
Bristol Black Raspberry Bush
Other Name(s):
Bristol
Scientific Name:
Rubus 'Bristol'
