- 1). Prepare the garden bed as soon as soils are workable. Spread 5 inches of compost in the hoophouse bed and 2 inches of sand. Work both into the soil to a depth of 18 inches.
- 2). Plant the dormant black raspberry canes four weeks before the date of the average frost. Set them 2-1/2 feet apart in the hoophouse. Depending on the structure's size, do additional rows spaced 8 to 10 feet apart. Set the plants into the soil 5 to 6 inches deep and compact the soil around them.
- 3). Provide 1/2 inch of water per week for the first three to four weeks. After that, allow the plants to dry out between watering until the first buds appear. Thereafter, provide 1 inch of water until harvest. Plants do not need supplemental moisture in the winter when they are dormant.
- 4). Cut holes in black plastic mulch so it fits around the plants. The mulch prevents weed growth and helps keep the soils warm by absorbing the sun's heat.
- 5). Put a thermometer in the hoophouse and roll up the sides of the covering when the internal air temperature reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This increased airflow helps prevent fungal diseases and cools the plants enough to prevent damage.
- 6). Keep the greenhouse film covering the hoophouse in good repair. Replace it when there are numerous holes and tears. Wipe the exterior off if it gets dirty, as this impedes light introduction to your berries.
- 7). Remove the black plastic mulch when winter approaches and spread 3 to 5 inches of an organic mulch around the canes protecting them from cold temperatures. Replace the black plastic over this as an added layer of protection.
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