Raspberry Black Jewel An American cultivar of an American species, Rubus occidentalis Black Jewel is a tall, vigorous, robust cane fruit, 6’ x 2’/1.8m x 60cm, which is grown like a blackberry. The fruit is black, with a sweet, aromatic flavour and aroma, and is higher in antioxidants than the red kinds, and high in fibre. The canes will need to be trained onto post-and-wire supports or a wired fence. The plant fruits on one year-old wood; it is best to tie the fruiting canes on one side of the support, and the younger canes bundled up on the other. Once all the fruit is picked, cut back fruited canes to the ground and spread out and tie in this year’s canes to fruit next year. Keep well watered at flowering and fruiting time. Raspberries have a suckering habit, and it’s a good idea to plant them in a bed surrounded by grass, so the suckers can be mown off. Site: Sheltered, sunny siteSoil: Fertile, well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acidic soilPosition: Full sunPick: July and AugustKeep: Does not keep, but freezes wellHardiness: Fully hardyPollination: Self-fertileUses: Eating, jam, cooking Photo by kkmarais, cropped, and licensed under CC BY 2.0.