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.)
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 >:(
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.
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.
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
jammy - let me know if your rasps taste of garlic!
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!