• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Between the [strike]ferns[/strike] raspberries.

 
gardener
Posts: 5170
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
1010
forest garden trees urban
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've begun the clean up of  my front yard raspberry patch by tying the canes up to stakes.
There are three rows of plants, with roughly 3 foot between plants and 6 feet between rows, mostly because that's how they spread.
This leaves space in between  that's begging to be used.
The thing is, most advice here on permies suggests that the only thing raspberries are happy sharing space with is mulch, so I was thinking I would plop down boxes(2x2 raised beds) full of mulch in the row between each plant.
In that mulch , I would grow something shallow rooted that likes mulch, like potatoes.

This is a thing I've done next to trees and fruit bushes, but not as tightly as I'm considering here.
 
steward and tree herder
Posts: 8385
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year
3974
4
transportation dog forest garden foraging trees books food preservation woodworking wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I suspect that the companion plants raspberries prefer may be climate dependent. Mine seem very happy with stinging nettles. Given that raspberries have a relatively shallow root run and like it cool, dampish, but not water logged, I wonder whether comfrey might actually be a good companion, or another deep rooting self mulching plant.
As regards potatoes, I could see that working quite well, especially on the outer edges of the raspberry patch. the act of digging the potatoes could trim the raspberry runners for you too. I think of potatoes as liking it quite sunny, but this is probably climate dependent too!
 
William Bronson
gardener
Posts: 5170
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
1010
forest garden trees urban
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Comfrey has been mentioned positively and negatively as a good companion.
There is already some a few feet away, along with daylillies and tree seedlings.
Nettles, I have tried,  and I kept hurting myself!
Gobo might do well in a bottomless container.
Maybe dwarf sunchokes.
Rhubarb could take the mulch, make more mulch and give a yield.

I am happlessly compelled to build things, but maybe I shouldn't do that here, and just mulch.
Maybe add a single comfrey or elderberry in between raspberry plants, for mulch and compost ing acceleration.


 
William Bronson
gardener
Posts: 5170
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
1010
forest garden trees urban
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Well, at least one of the transplants is unlike to make it.
My wife had some some rabbit bedding/poop and suggested mulching them with it.

I was a little extra smitten and swoony over that!

Anyways they got a deep soak, and a bunch if mulch.
IMG_20220430_182418.jpg
The middle one is probably a goner...
The middle one is probably a goner...
 
pollinator
Posts: 1234
Location: Chicago
422
dog forest garden fish foraging urban cooking food preservation bike
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I first thought your topic was ferns and raspberries, because that is how I have them growing!  raspberries growing up out of a patch of Ostrich ferns.  They get along well, and you can eat the fiddleheads in spring.  It is tricky getting to the berries without breaking too many ferns, though.  I put in some steppingstones.
 
The moth suit and wings road is much more exciting than taxes. Or this tiny ad:
rocket mass heater risers: materials and design eBook
https://permies.com/w/risers-ebook
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic