People often think raspberry cuttings only work if you take dormant wood in winter. That is wrong. Raspberry cuttings root very well from softwood or semi ripe cuttings in midsummer, and you can start them this weekend. I will show you exactly how long to cut, what pot and mix to use, the soil temperature to aim for, and when to plant those new canes relative to your last frost date.
Quick answer, will raspberry cuttings work for me this July
Yes, for most home gardeners
If you have healthy raspberry canes and a cool shady spot, take softwood or semi ripe cuttings now and you will get roots in three to eight weeks. Softwood cuttings give fastest results in July. Semi ripe cuttings are a little slower but tougher for very warm gardens. Root indoors or in a shaded propagation bench, then plant in the ground in late summer or next spring depending on your frost dates.
What you will need, exact quantities
- Pruners or sharp knife, cleaned. One pair per gardener is enough.
- Softwood or semi ripe canes, cut into 4 to 6 inch pieces with 2 to 3 nodes each.
- Rooting hormone powder or gel, small jar. Dip lower 1/2 inch of stem into powder.
- Propagation pots, 3 to 4 inch plastic pots, 12 to 24 pots depending on how many cuttings you take.
- Potting mix, recipe below that fills 1 gallon of mix.
- Tray with drainage, a clear plastic dome or a clear bag with holes for humidity.
- Thermometer that reads soil temperature.
- Watering can or spray bottle for gentle wetting.
Potting mix recipe, exact by volume to make 1 gallon of mix: 8 cups coconut coir or sphagnum peat, 4 cups perlite, 4 cups screened compost. Mix thoroughly. Target pH 5.5 to 6.5. If using peat and your soil test shows pH below 5.0, add 1 tablespoon garden lime per gallon of mix to raise pH slightly.
When to take cuttings, tied to frost dates
Timing depends on your last spring frost and first fall frost. For central Ohio, USDA zone 6b, last frost is usually around May 10 to May 15, first fall frost around October 15 to October 25. Take softwood cuttings now in midsummer. You want at least six weeks between root formation and your first hard frost if you plan to plant out this fall.
- If you are in zone 6 and your first fall frost is mid October, take cuttings by mid August at the latest to plant out in early September.
- If you are in warmer zones, you can take cuttings into August. In colder zones, take cuttings early July to give plants a longer window to root before cold sets in.
- If you cannot plant out before frost, root now and keep plants in 1 gallon pots through the winter, then plant after the last frost in spring.
| Cutting type | Best timing | Length | Time to root | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood | Mid June to mid July, after new growth is flexible | 4 to 6 inches | 3 to 5 weeks | Fastest rooting, needs steady humidity and 65 to 75°F soil |
| Semi ripe | Late July to August, when cane base starts to firm | 4 to 6 inches | 6 to 8 weeks | Hardier in heat, tolerates slight wilting |
Step by step, take and root cuttings this weekend
- Choose stock canes. Pick healthy, disease free canes. Avoid canes with spots, powdery mildew, or dead patches. Take cuttings in the morning when the plant is full of moisture. Bring a bucket of water to keep cuttings from wilting.
- Make the cuttings. Cut 4 to 6 inch pieces with 2 to 3 nodes each. Remove any flowers or fruit. Make a clean cut at the base just below a node. Strip off the lower 1 inch of leaves, leave 1 to 2 leaves at the top to limit transpiration.
- Prepare the pots and mix. Fill 3 to 4 inch pots about 1 inch from the rim with the 1 gallon mix recipe above. Firm lightly, then water until you see moisture drain from the bottom. Let drain for 10 minutes.
- Apply rooting hormone. Dip the lower 1/2 inch of stem into powder or gel. Tap off excess. This increases your success rate but is not strictly required.
- Plant the cutting. Make a 1 inch deep hole in the mix with a pencil. Insert the cutting so one node is below the soil and one node is above. Firm the mix around the stem gently to remove air pockets.
- Create humidity and warmth. Place pots on a tray. Cover with a clear dome or a clear plastic bag with 4 small holes for air. Keep pots in bright shade or an east window, temperatures 65 to 75°F. A bottom heat mat set to 70°F speeds rooting.
- Water schedule. Keep the medium evenly moist. Water from the bottom once a week by filling the tray with 1 inch of water for 10 minutes, then drain. Mist the cuttings once daily in hot weather. Do not leave pots sitting flooded.
- Check for roots. Gently tug after three weeks. You should feel resistance indicating root growth. For softwood cuttings expect roots in three to five weeks. For semi ripe expect six to eight weeks.
- Pot up when roots show. When roots are 1 to 2 inches long and visible at the drainage holes, move the cutting into a 1 gallon pot filled with the same potting mix. Water thoroughly.
- Harden off before planting out. Reduce humidity and increase air exposure over 7 to 10 days. Start with two hours outside in morning shade, add two hours each day, then leave nights inside until the final hardening day.
Planting in the garden, exact spacing and depth
Raspberries are shallow rooted. Dig a planting hole 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Spread roots out vertically in the hole. Set the crown so the soil line is level with the top of the roots, no more than 1 inch deeper than the original pot. Back fill and firm soil gently.
- Spacing, summer bearing varieties: 24 to 36 inches between plants in a row, rows 6 to 8 feet apart.
- Spacing, everbearing varieties: 18 to 24 inches between plants in a row, rows 6 feet apart.
- Trellis posts should be 8 to 10 feet apart, wires at 36 and 48 inches for training.
If you plant in late summer, cut all flower buds off the new canes so the plants put energy into roots and leaves. I always remove blooms the first year. It reduces yield that season, but strengthens plants for year two.
Common failures and how to avoid them
Root rot from over wet, poorly drained mix is the most common failure. I lost a flat of cuttings once because I used heavy garden soil in pots. Use the light mix recipe above and clear drainage holes. Do not let pots sit in more than one inch of standing water for more than 24 hours.
Another common mistake is taking cuttings in the heat of the afternoon. Cut in the morning and keep cuttings in cool water until planted. If your soil temperatures exceed 80°F, rooting stalls. Move trays to shaded, cooler space or use a fan for circulation.
Aftercare and timeline
After planting outdoors, water newly planted canes with 1 to 2 gallons per plant once a week if there is no rain, for the first six weeks. Mulch with 2 to 3 inches of straw or shredded leaves, keeping mulch 1 inch away from the crown. Expect little or no fruit the first season if you remove flowers, then a normal crop the second year.
Feed young plants lightly in spring after growth begins. For numbers, apply 1 cup of a balanced granular fertilizer like a 10 10 10 per plant in early spring, then follow your soil test or the local extension office for specifics. For more detailed feeding schedules, see our guide on raspberry fertilizer.
If you are planting in a raised bed, follow the same spacing and depth, but keep drainage especially good. Our raised bed gardening for beginners guide explains bed depth and soil mix if you need a quick reference.
Raspberry cuttings are a good weekend project. If you want more small garden propagation practice, I wrote a step by step piece on how to grow tomatoes from tomato, root slices, seeds, and cuttings this weekend. Also, if you will keep potted raspberries, our how to grow tomatoes in containers guide has container watering and feeding tips that apply to potted raspberries too.
FAQ heading
Can I root cuttings without rooting hormone?
Yes, but your success rate will be lower. Rooting hormone shortens the time to roots and increases uniformity. If you skip it, take extra cuttings so you have backups, and keep humidity and temperatures steady at 65 to 75°F.
Should I take softwood or semi ripe cuttings?
Take softwood cuttings in early to mid July for fastest results, semi ripe late July to August if your summer is very hot. Softwood roots in three to five weeks, semi ripe in six to eight weeks, and semi ripe tolerates heat and wind better.
When should I move rooted cuttings to the garden?
Move to the garden at least six weeks before your first expected fall frost for establishment. If that window is too small, keep plants in 1 gallon pots through winter and plant after the last spring frost. In zone 6b aim to plant outdoors by early September at the latest, or in spring after May 15.
How many cuttings should I take from one cane?
One long cane yields three to four 4 to 6 inch cuttings. Take no more than 25 percent of a single plant in one year so you do not stress the mother plant. If you need many plants, spread cuts over two plants and two weekends.
