Raspberry Allgold: Large, Sweet, Golden Berries for Your Garden

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Growing Raspberry Allgold: A Guide to the Sweet and Vibrant Gold Raspberry

Raspberry ‘Allgold’ is a delightful autumn-fruiting variety known for its rich golden colour, sweet flavour, and robust growth. As a primocane variety, it produces fruit on the current year’s canes, making it a reliable choice for UK gardens. This article explores everything you need to know about growing and enjoying ‘Allgold’, from its unique features to tips for planting and harvesting. Read on to discover why this gold raspberry deserves a spot in your garden!

What Makes Raspberry ‘Allgold’ Special?

Raspberry ‘Allgold’ stands out with its vibrant golden berries and wonderfully sweet flavour. Unlike traditional red raspberries, its fruits are sweeter and slightly superior in taste. This variety is a primocane, meaning it produces fruit on new canes, allowing you to enjoy a bountiful crop from late August to autumn.

The canes are slightly thorny but vigorous, ensuring high yields even in smaller gardens. As a holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, ‘Allgold’ has proven its value to gardeners, offering excellent cropping potential and resilience.

Why Choose a Gold Raspberry?

Golden raspberries like ‘Allgold’ add visual appeal and a unique flavour to your fruit garden. They are an excellent attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects, making them an environmentally friendly choice. Their rich colour and sweetness also make them a versatile fruit, perfect for fresh eating, desserts, and preserves.

When and Where to Plant

Plant ‘Allgold’ canes during the dormant season, ideally in early spring or late winter. Choose a sunny position with well-drained soil. If your soil is slightly acidic, this is even better, as raspberries thrive in such conditions. Ensure the area is free from weeds and dig a wide, shallow trench to plant your canes.

Preparing the Soil

Before planting, enrich the soil with well-rotted manure or garden compost to provide essential nutrients. This will create the perfect condition for planting and help your canes thrive. Aim to replant in fresh soil if raspberries were previously grown in the same spot.

Spacing and Support

Plant the canes 50cm apart in rows spaced 1.8m apart. Use a post-and-wire system or a bamboo cane to support the canes as they grow. This will ensure they remain upright and make harvesting easy.

Watering and Mulching

Water well after planting and continue to keep the soil moist during the growing season. Apply a mulch of organic matter to retain moisture and suppress weeds. This is especially important during dry periods to ensure healthy growth and fruiting.

Pruning

‘Allgold’ is a primocane variety, so it requires minimal pruning. After the canes have finished cropping in late autumn, cut them back to ground level each February. This encourages new canes to emerge for the next growing season.

Feeding and Maintenance

During the growing season, feed your plants with a balanced fertiliser to promote vigorous growth and high yields. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, and remove any affected canes promptly.

Harvesting Time

The berries ripen from late summer to autumn, providing a generous and extended harvest. The golden fruits are easy to spot against the green foliage, making picking a breeze.

Tips for Harvesting

Pick the berries when they are fully ripe for the best flavour. Gently twist them off the cane to avoid damage. Harvest regularly to encourage further fruiting and enjoy the sweet taste of freshly picked raspberries.

Why ‘Allgold’ is Ideal for Smaller Gardens

Thanks to its shorter and bushier habit, ‘Allgold’ is perfect for smaller gardens and containers. Its high cropping potential and ease of maintenance make it an excellent choice for gardeners with limited space.

Can You Grow Raspberry ‘Allgold’ in Containers?

Yes, ‘Allgold’ can be grown in containers, provided they are large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots. Use a container with a capacity of at least 10 litres and fill it with well-drained compost. Ensure the container is placed in a sunny position and water regularly to keep the soil moist.

Pests and Diseases

‘Allgold’ is slightly thorny, which helps deter some pests. However, watch out for aphids, spider mites, and cane blight. Use natural predators or organic sprays to manage pests effectively.

Raspberry Root Rot

Avoid planting ‘Allgold’ in areas prone to raspberry root rot. If your garden has a history of this disease, grow the plants in pots with clean, well-drained substrate and disease-free irrigation water.

Companion Planting with Raspberry Allgold

Pair your ‘Allgold’ raspberries with other autumn fruiting varieties to extend your harvest season. They also grow well alongside strawberries, blueberries, and herbs like mint and chives, which help repel pests.

Key Points to Remember:

• Raspberry ‘Allgold’ is an autumn fruiting, primocane variety with sweet, golden berries
• Plant the canes in well-drained soil and a sunny position for the best results
• Support the canes with a post-and-wire system to make harvesting easy
• Cut back all the canes to ground level each February to encourage new growth
• Apply mulch and water well to keep the plants healthy
• Watch out for pests and diseases and address issues promptly
• Perfect for smaller gardens and containers, ‘Allgold’ is easy to grow and maintain
• The rich flavour and vibrant colour of ‘Allgold’ make it a standout choice for any fruit garden

By following these tips, you can enjoy the sweet and aromatic harvest of ‘Allgold’ raspberries, adding a touch of gold to your garden and your plate!

To see the RHS article please click here

For more information on Fruit for your garden please click here

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are Rubus idaeus ‘All Gold’ raspberry canes?

A: Rubus idaeus ‘All Gold’ raspberry canes are a type of autumn-fruiting raspberry that produces rich gold, sweeter, and superior fruit. They’re perfect for those looking to enjoy delicious raspberries in autumn!

Q: When can I expect to harvest my gold raspberry canes?

A: You can begin harvesting your gold raspberries from late August. These autumn-fruiting plants will provide a bountiful crop if well-tended!

Q: What’s the best way to care for my Raspberry All Gold plants?

A: To care for your Raspberry All Gold plants, ensure the canes are tied onto their support as they grow. It’s essential to cut the canes down to ground level after fruiting to encourage new canes to emerge next season.

Q: Can I buy bare-root raspberry canes online?

A: Absolutely! You can buy raspberry canes online, including bare-root options. Just ensure you choose reputable sellers to get the best quality plants! Buy Raspberry All Gold here.

Q: Are the canes of Rubus idaeus ‘All Gold’ thorny?

A: Yes, the canes are slightly thorny, so do be careful when picking the fruit. But don’t worry, the delicious gold raspberries are worth a few scratches!

Q: How do Autumn Bliss raspberries compare to gold raspberry plants?

A: While both are fantastic, Autumn Bliss raspberries are known for their red fruit, whereas gold raspberry plants like the ‘All Gold’ variety offer a unique and sweeter gold fruiting experience!

Q: What support do I need for my raspberry canes?

A: You’ll need a solid support structure for your raspberry canes as they grow. This can be a trellis or stakes that help keep the canes upright and organised.

Q: Is it true that Rubus idaeus ‘All Gold’ has received an Award of Garden Merit?

A: Yes! The Rubus idaeus ‘All Gold’ variety has been awarded for its excellent performance and flavour, making it a favourite among gardeners looking for quality fruit.

Q: Can I grow these raspberries alongside summer-fruiting raspberries?

A: Yes, you can certainly grow autumn-fruiting raspberries alongside summer-fruiting ones! Just remember they have different care needs, so plan your garden layout accordingly.

Q: How do I know if my raspberry canes are healthy?

A: Healthy raspberry canes will have vibrant leaves, sturdy growth, and no signs of disease or pests. If your canes look robust and are producing fruit, you’re on the right track!