Can I plant raspberry and blackberry in the same area?
You can but you should not plant raspberries within 300 feet of any wild blackberry bushes. Wild blackberries can carry fungus and viruses that can make your raspberries sterile. This precaution prevents your raspberries from catching the fungus. The ones you buy from the store, however, should be certified virus and fungus free.
Should you prune raspberry bushes?
Yes. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/raspberry/pruning-raspberry-bushes.htm
Would you get a better crop with the raspberries in lines, with strings supporting them, or with them in a big bunch?
It really doesn't matter as long as they have adequate growing conditions. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/raspberry/care-of-raspberry-plants.htm
I have two raspberry plants that do extremely well, but the only problem is very small ants, millions of them it seems. Can you please tell me how to stop those insects from ruining my raspberries? They actually do no harm, but I cannot eat them with the thought I might be eating tiny ants. Thank you.
If you are seeing ants, it probably means you have an aphid problem. The ants are not a problem, but the aphids are. Once the aphids are treated, the ants will leave too. Here is some information on treating aphids:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-ants.htm
I planted 2 red raspberry bushes last summer and got quite a yeild off them in the late summer, early fall. I pruned them back and now this spring I have literally 100's of little sucker plants sprouting everywhere in the garden. What do I do with all of these weed raspberry plants? Thanks, jannyr
It sounds like you had a small rodent also enjoy your red raspberries and then deposited the seeds all about your garden when Mother Nature called.
You can remove the seedlings and then try to take steps to protect the fruit from other animals that may seed your garden in the coming year. Bird netting, partially buried fencing or hanging old CDs around the plant (which will move and flash in the wind and sun) will help prevent pests from nibbling and later planting new raspberries.
Can I plant blackberry bushes next to raspberry bushes?
You can plant them within the same area as long as they are all domesticated varieties and certified virus free. Do not plant wild varieties of any kind of berry near domesticated ones as the wild varieties may carry diseases. Wild blackberries can carry fungus and viruses that can make your raspberries sterile (more information here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/blackberries/blackberries-not-fruiting.htm).
Can I plant just a single raspberry bush, or does there need to be two or more?
Raspberry bushes self-pollinate so only one plant is necessary to get fruit; however, you will get bigger and more productful fruit by adding another one.