{"product_id":"encore-raspberry","title":"Encore Raspberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eLarge, Sweet Red Berries on a Nearly Thornless Late-Summer Cane\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEncore Raspberry (\u003cem\u003eRubus idaeus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Encore') is a summer-bearing (floricane) variety that ripens its big, firm, sweet red berries later than most summer types — extending the main raspberry season. The upright, nearly thornless canes are easy to pick, and it's self-fertile and zone 4 hardy. Whether you're starting a berry patch in Edina, filling a sunny row in Maple Grove, or stretching the harvest in Woodbury — Encore brings late-summer raspberries to zone 4b–5a gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEncore Raspberry Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eRubus idaeus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Encore'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSummer-bearing (floricane) raspberry; cane fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6 feet; benefits from a trellis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for the sweetest berries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — 1–2 inches per week; shallow roots dislike drying out\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRich, well-draining; amend Minnesota clay-loam with compost. Avoid wet feet.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-fertile — a single plant will fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBearing Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSummer-bearing\/floricane — fruits on second-year canes; late season\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLate summer; large, firm, sweet red berries; nearly thornless\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to zone 4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEncore Raspberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExtending the summer harvest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEncore ripens late among summer-bearers, so pairing it with an earlier variety stretches the picking season in a Plymouth garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEasy-picking rows\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts sturdy, nearly thornless, upright canes make for comfortable harvesting along a trellised row in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFresh eating and preserving\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge, firm, flavorful berries are excellent fresh, frozen, or in jam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Encore Raspberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) is the best window, giving canes a full season to establish. Early fall planting can work in a sheltered spot. Never plant after mid-October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Encore Raspberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a full-sun, well-drained site away from wild brambles (which can spread disease).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep; backfill with native soil mixed with compost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 2–3 feet apart in rows; install a T-trellis since these canes grow tall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the crown at soil level and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 3–4 inches with straw or shredded bark, kept off the canes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs a floricane type, do not mow it down — see pruning below.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Encore Raspberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: 1–2 inches per week, especially during fruiting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep evenly moist during flowering and fruiting for plump berries. Shallow roots mean steady moisture and mulch matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I prune a summer-bearing raspberry?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEncore fruits on second-year canes (floricanes). After a cane fruits, cut it to the ground; leave the current season's new green canes to overwinter and fruit next summer. Don't mow everything down — that would remove next year's crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it really thornless?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNearly so — the canes are smooth and easy to handle compared with most raspberries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — hardy to zone 4. In exposed sites, mulch the base and consider a windbreak; the canes must survive winter to fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeritage Raspberry — a reliable red everbearer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJoan J Raspberry — a thornless red everbearer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnne Raspberry — a sweet yellow everbearer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54312936374577,"sku":null,"price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/encore-raspberry.jpg?v=1779557842","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/encore-raspberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}