Topic: underplanting raspberries?

[aquilegia]

Can I plant something under my raspberry canes? If so - do I need to do anything special to the bed?

I was thinking of creating a permenant bed of raspberries with periennial herbs or leafy things (like Sorrel) or maybe strawbs or rhubarb underneath. Is it plausible?

(remember - I don't have an allotment and don't have much space.)

[Merry Tiller]

Raspberries are very shallow rooted so I would guess it's a bad idea but it would be interesting to hear other peoples experiences
PS. Couch grass grows very well as an underplanting around mine, not to mention Docks >:(

[aquilegia]

Shallow roots - that's why I was thinking periennials. Something I'm not going to keep disturbing.

Oh - I should've said, I haven't actually planted the raspberries yet! (they are in pots). The space they are probably going to go in has my over-wintering broadies at the mo.

[Mimi]

Was just thinking Aqui, dint raspberries reproduce by suckering ???  Not too sure because mine are still in pots waiting to go to the allotment.  Will it not be a case of the raspberries disturbing whatever you grow underneath with new suckers coming up through them..  As I said I'm not an expert because I have never grown them and haven't even got my new ones in yet.

[jammyd]

Hi Aqui, I underplanted with Garlic - Shouldn't disturb the roots too much when harvesting and (according to my companion planting guide) the garlic will help keep aphids and other pests away (kinda like planting under roses...)

jammy :)

p.s. I hope the flavour doesn't transfer - garlic raspberries  :-X

[aquilegia]

jammy - let me know if your rasps taste of garlic!

[Clayhithe]

Mimi,

Yes raspberries produce suckers which will grow up through Aquilegias perennials.   In fact,  if you don't dig out the suckers the raspberries will eventually take over your entire plot!

I prefer to underplant with something short-lived and shallow rooted:  but I hadn't thought of garlic!