Prelude Red Raspberry Rootstock, 4 oz Bare Root Raspberry Roots, 10 Ft Row Planting, Early Season Berry Plants, Fall Crop

Prelude Early Season Red Raspberry Rootstock – 4 oz Package for Approximately 10 Feet of Row Planting

Start a productive raspberry patch with Prelude early-season red raspberry rootstock! Developed by the New York State Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, Prelude is known for excellent winter hardiness, vigorous growth, and two seasonal berry crops.

Enjoy medium to large berries in early summer, followed by an additional smaller crop in fall. Its sturdy, vigorous canes are nearly thornless, making Prelude a great choice for home gardens and backyard berry patches.

Plant Features

• Variety: Prelude Early Season Red Raspberry

• Product: 4 oz bare-root raspberry rootstock

• Planting coverage: Approximately 10 feet of row

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–8

• Berry size: Medium to large

• Harvest: Early summer, with an additional smaller fall crop

• Canes: Sturdy, vigorous, and nearly thornless

• Winter hardiness: Excellent

• Uses: Fresh eating, desserts, jams, and freezing

What You're Buying

This listing is for 4 oz of bare-root raspberry roots, not established potted plants or mature raspberry canes.

Rootstock is an economical way to establish raspberry plants. It is favored by raspberry farmers because it costs less than bare-root raspberry canes and is easy to plant.

One ounce of roots can be used to start approximately four containers. This 4 oz package can therefore start approximately 16 containers.

Starting Your Raspberry Roots

You can start your roots indoors or in a greenhouse before planting them in their permanent garden location.

1. Plant roots approximately ¼–½ inch deep in containers.

2. Place containers in a warm, sunny location.

3. Water regularly and do not allow the roots to dry out.

4. If garden soil is too wet or cold to till, allow the roots to establish in containers first.

5. After approximately 3–4 months, the young plants are generally ready for transplanting into the garden.

The seller reports that 16 oz of rootstock can produce approximately 48–72 new canes in the first year. This estimate applies to the 16 oz quantity, not this 4 oz package.

Canes may grow over 3 feet tall in their first year with proper care. The seller also reports that rootstock-grown plants can bear fruit as soon as plants started from bare-root canes or pruned plants. Actual growth and fruiting depend on growing conditions and plant development.

Detailed planting, pruning, and care instructions are included with your rootstock.

Shipping Information

• Rootstock is scheduled to ship beginning December 2026 and will be available until sold out in Summer 2027.

• Let us know your preferred shipping date.

• We ship to all states.

• Free shipping is available to most locations.

• Larger boxes and shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, APO addresses, U.S. Territories, and locations considered remote may require a freight surcharge.

• Orders may be held if temperatures are warmer than 89°F or colder than 20°F.

Plant Quality and Shipping Care

All plants are inspected for quality before shipment. Plants are rarely damaged during shipping, but please contact us promptly if damage occurs. Photograph the package and plants so we can help resolve the issue.

Grow your own Prelude raspberries and enjoy an early-summer harvest with an additional smaller fall crop!