Raspberry Revival Part 2: Tula Magic Raspberries Bloom with Patience
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Hello, fellow growers! 🌱 I’m back with the second chapter of my Raspberry Revival series on my Zone 7 Kentucky homestead with Bloom & Peck . Where patience, a touch of worry, and a sprinkle of magic are bringing my Tula Magic raspberries to life.
If you missed Part 1, I kicked off this journey with a birthday gift of Tula Magic Raspberry canes from Holland Bulbs, dreaming of a sustainable food forest—only to hit a snag with back surgery. Now, let’s catch up on weeks 1 through 3, with some adaptive gardening, a magical twist, and a peek at my container-grown beauties!
Week 1: My Slow Start with Tula Magic Raspberry Container Gardening Rush
The first week after 🤕 surgery was a waiting game. I’d popped my five Tula Magic raspberry canes into two containers NOT the best situation but I had to get them in the ground. I was leaving for the hospital in the AM and just hoping they’d survive. By week 1, 2 of the 5 canes sprouted leaves—yay!—but 3 stayed bare. “Not worried yet,” I told myself, snapping a quick pic to track their progress. Tula Magic raspberries, known for their sweet-tart flavor and vigorous growth, need patience, and I was ready to give it.
Week 2: A Moment of Doubt and a Raspberry Root Revival
By week 2, the same cane2 were thriving, but the 3 bare ones had me worried. Was I failing my sustainable food forest dream already? I could not wait, all the things you read on the internet about ordering bare root fruit online was full of scary tails. I had to do something, I gently dug up one bare cane, and—oh, the relief!—the roots were alive and well, as you can see in the photo below. Raspberry canes grow from their roots, so this was a sign to keep the faith. My spirits lifted, I tucked it back in, ready to wait a bit longer.
Week 3: All Five Canes Come Alive in the Small Garden Containers!
Fast forward to today, May 19, 2025, and I’m over the moon—all five Tula Magic canes have buds, growth, and leaves. They are just Bursting with promise in their containers! Check out the vibrant growth in the photo below. Tula Magic’s adaptability shines through, making them perfect for raspberry container gardening while I heal. Since digging a raised bed isn’t an option yet, I’ll pot them up into larger containers soon, ensuring proper airflow to keep those roots happy—a tip I picked up for growing raspberries in pots.
Bloom and Peck Finds A Sprinkle of Raspberry Magic in the Garden
Raspberries aren’t just tasty—they carry a bit of magic! The Practical Herbalist shares that in folklore, raspberries symbolize love and protection, perfectly fitting for my Zone 7 Kentucky homestead. They’ll soon guard my sustainable food forest dreams. But there’s more—raspberry magic also spins the magic of patience in fertility. First-year canes don’t produce fruit; instead, they focus on establishing a strong root system, filling themselves with the strength needed to bloom and fruit in their second year. As The Practical Herbalist puts it, “It is best to be patient, Raspberry counsels, when beginning any creative endeavor.” I can’t help but smile, knowing my Tula Magic teaching me patience after I had to dig one up to see the roots! A playful nod to their vibrant history that mirrors my own journey of tolerance with these resilient plants!
The Sustainable Food Forest Vision: Intercropping with Fruit Trees
My ultimate goal is to plant these Tula Magic raspberries between my fruit trees, far enough to avoid water competition but close enough to share pollinators—a perfect intercropping method for my sustainable food forest! Raspberries in raised beds will be their final spot, and I’m eyeing the sturdy Birdies raised beds from Epic Gardening to make it happen. With shade cloth and fine mesh netting (less than 1mm openings) to combat pests like Spotted Wing Drosophila, these raised garden beds will give my raspberries the perfect home. Plus, you can get an extra 5% off your Epic Gardening order with my affiliate link—yay for savings! For now, raspberry container gardening keeps me adaptable, a lifeline while I heal, but I can’t wait to upgrade my container raspberries to Raspberries in raised garden beds.
What’s Next for the Tula Magic Raspberry Journey?
Next, I’ll pot up these beauties into larger containers, ensuring they thrive until I can build that raised bed for my raspberries. I’m dreaming of fresh Tula Magic raspberries by summer—perfect for snacking or sharing with my flock (yes, they’re chicken-safe!).
What’s growing in your garden find me on social media and share your pictures @BloomandPeck, or Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear! Want to catch every Bloom and Peck garden update? Join our email list for the next chapter of raspberries, tomatoes, and homestead magic—it’s a community you won’t want to miss! 🌿🐔
Frequently Asked Questions About Raspberry Container Gardening
Absolutely! I’m growing my Tula Magic raspberries in containers right here in Zone 7 Kentucky, and they’re thriving after three weeks. Containers are perfect for adapting to limited mobility or waiting to build raised beds, as long as you ensure good drainage and airflow for the roots. BUT, I will pot them up to one to each pot ratio as soon as I get the ok from Dr. to do more lifting.
Larger containers (10-15 gallons) are ideal for long-term growth, ensuring the roots don’t get cramped as the canes mature.
Raspberries in containers need consistent moisture but hate soggy roots. (Growfully with Jenna) I water mine every 2-3 days, depending on the weather, aiming for about 1-2 inches of water per week. In Zone 7, where summer heat can spike, I’ll keep a close eye to avoid drying out.
Yes, a little TLC goes a long way! I use a well-draining soil mix and ensure airflow at the container base to prevent root rot, a tip I picked up from Container Gardening Resources. In Zone 7, I will also add shade cloth during summer to protect them from intense heat, as raspberries prefer cooler conditions.
Definitely! My Tula Magic raspberries are a stepping stone to my sustainable food forest dream. While they’re in containers now, I will move the containers down between the trees. Here, I will transplant them, spacing them to share pollinators but not compete for water—a perfect intercropping setup!
Sources for the Raspberry Journey
Leafy Journal, “How to Begin Planting Raspberry Canes”
The Practical Herbalist, “Raspberry Myth and Magic”
Promo-Fruit, “Tula Magic Description”
Growfully with Jenna, “Planting Raspberries in Containers” (YouTube)