Heritage Raspberry is a classic everbearing red raspberry that produces not once but twice per growing season, delivering crops on old canes in early summer and again on new growth into the fall. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, this heirloom variety grows 4 to 5 feet tall and reaches maturity in approximately 700 days. The medium to large, firm, light red berries are prized for fresh eating, freezing, and processing, and the variety shows resistance to leaf spot disease. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and well-drained soil, making it a reliable choice for home gardeners seeking sustained harvests across two seasons.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-8
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Preferred Temp55-85°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
480 in
Width
36 in
Spacing
700–700
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeSubshrub
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-8
Size
36in H x 480in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Heritage produces fruit on two distinct cycles, giving you an early summer flush from last year's canes and then a generous late-summer-into-fall crop from new growth. The berries are medium to large, firm, and light red, with a flavorful character that makes them exceptional for fresh eating as well as preserving. Its vigor and hardiness across a wide hardiness range, combined with resistance to leaf spot disease and deer resistance, mean you can plant it and expect reliable productivity year after year with minimal fuss.
Common Uses
Heritage raspberries excel fresh off the cane, where their firm texture and flavor shine brightest. They freeze exceptionally well, making them ideal for extending the harvest beyond the growing season. Their productivity and reliable yield make them a favorite for home preserves, jams, and other processed applications. The everbearing nature means you can enjoy fresh berries throughout the summer and fall rather than relying on a single intense harvest window.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Fall
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Plant Heritage raspberry roots in spring according to your hardiness zone. For everbearing varieties, expect a small crop during the first year of growth. Space plants 6 feet apart (or 3 feet in some configurations) in rows 6 feet apart. Ensure soil is fertile and well-drained before planting, and amend with organic matter if needed.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting in the second year for the early summer crop on old canes, and everbearing varieties will produce a smaller crop in their first year on new growth. Raspberries do not ripen uniformly, so hand-harvest berries as they reach full light red color and separate easily from the cane. Expect the most generous harvests during the late-summer-and-fall flush on primocanes. Always harvest by hand, as machine harvesting causes bruising. Keep berries cool immediately after harvest to preserve quality and extend storage life.
Pruning
Heritage's everbearing nature means you'll manage canes based on your desired fruiting pattern. Old canes that fruited in early summer can be removed after harvest to encourage vigor in new growth, which will then fruit in late summer and fall. Alternatively, keep both old and new canes for two crops, but thin overcrowded canes to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Given the vigorous growth habit, regular pruning keeps the plants manageable and productive.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantEdibleNative Species
Bloom Time
August - October
Scientific Classification
Rubus idaeus L.
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Rubus
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (NI)AK (NI)CAN (NI)SPM (N)
History & Origin
“Heritage is recognized as a classic heirloom everbearing red raspberry that has earned a reputation worldwide as a dependable home garden variety. Its journey as a preserved cultivar reflects decades of gardener experience and seed-saving traditions, with the variety valued across diverse growing regions for its consistent performance and dual-season productivity. The fact that it appears in modern heirloom catalogs and seed collections underscores its status as a cultivar worth conserving for future generations.”