Depending on which variety you plant, raspberry harvest times can vary quite a bit. Generally speaking, we group them into summer-bearing and fall-bearing types. Here’s the scoop on when you can expect to fill your baskets.
The Different Types of Raspberries
There are tons of raspberry varieties out there, but they basically fall into three main categories:
- Summer-bearing raspberries
- Fall-bearing raspberries (often called everbearing)
- “Two-timer” raspberries (varieties that fruit twice a year)
When Are Raspberries Ready to Pick?
Summer-bearing raspberries usually kick off the season in June and keep producing through July. Fall-bearing types take over from August until the first frost hits—which means you can often keep harvesting well into October. If you go with a “two-timer” variety, you get the best of both worlds with a harvest in both summer and fall.
So, how do you know when they’re perfectly ripe? Look for full color all the way around the berry. Depending on your variety, this will be a deep red or a vibrant yellow—just make sure there’s no green left. The real test, though, is the “tug test.” A ripe raspberry will slide right off the stem with almost no effort. If you feel any resistance, they aren’t quite ready yet. Give them another day or two on the bush to sweeten up!
