Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs
Meeker raspberry
Rubus idaeus 'Meeker'
Raspberry 'Meeker' is a summer-bearing red raspberry grown for one crop on second-year canes. Its berries ripen around late June to July in the maritime Pacific Northwest, with timing shifting by site and season. Canes reach about 5 feet, while suckers gradually widen the planting unless you keep them within a row. Give this deciduous fruiting shrub full sun, fertile, well-drained soil, and irrigation during dry periods. A support system makes harvest and cane management easier. After picking, remove spent fruiting canes and retain new growth for the following year. Flowers offer nectar to pollinators, and fruit also attracts birds.
Ask about this plantAt a glance
- Mature height
- Canes about 5 ft tall
- Mature spread
- Spreads by suckers; width depends on management
- Light
- Full sun preferred
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–8
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Plant 'Meeker' in an edible garden row where you can support and harvest its canes. The fruit can be eaten fresh, frozen, or juiced.
Where to plant
Choose a full-sun site with room for a support system and access to both sides of the row. Keep the canes open rather than crowded.
Through the seasons
A single crop of red berries develops on second-year canes in summer, often from late June into July depending on the site and season.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
'Meeker' is a summer-bearing raspberry for Pacific Northwest home gardens. In Southwest Washington, drainage matters because waterlogged soil increases the risk of root rot.
Soil, drainage & water
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil and irrigate during dry periods. Avoid waterlogged ground and overwatering.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Support the canes and keep the row open for airflow. After harvest, remove canes that bore fruit and train the new canes for next year's crop.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Anthracnose
Sunken reddish-purple spots on canes may turn gray with purple edges; severe infections can cause cane dieback.
Help your plant thrive
Start with disease-free plants, keep canes open for airflow, avoid overhead watering, and remove infected canes.
Phytophthora root rot
Canes may wilt in warm weather, bear poorly, or die early; fine roots turn cinnamon brown.
Help your plant thrive
Plant in well-drained soil, avoid overwatering, and use a raised bed where drainage is poor. Remove affected plants and clean tools.
A little more inspiration
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Ribes uva-crispa 'Little Ben'
Little Ben is a compact deciduous gooseberry with spring flowers and summer fruit, suited to sunny or partly shaded edible gardens with well-drained soil.
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CC BY-SA 3.0 · Web-optimized
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Vaccinium parvifolium
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Vaccinium ovatum 'Scarlet Ovation'
Scarlet Ovation is a compact evergreen huckleberry with colorful new growth, spring flowers, and edible berries. Plant in acidic, well-drained soil for low hedges or groups.
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