9 

Raspberry 'Prelude'

2-Gallon

Height: 4-5 feet tall.
Spread: 3-4 feet.
Sunlight: Full sun.
Hardiness Zone: 4a.
Other Names: Rubus idaeus 'Prelude'

Description:
An early-season red raspberry variety prized for its sweet flavor, high yields, and cold hardiness. 'Prelude' is one of the first raspberries to ripen in the spring and may produce a smaller second crop in the fall under ideal conditions. This disease-resistant variety is excellent for fresh eating, preserving, and home gardens.

Edible Qualities:
Raspberry 'Prelude' is known for its juicy, flavorful berries with a well-balanced sweetness and mild tartness. The fruit ripens in early summer, offering one of the season's first raspberry harvests.

The fruit is most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Baking
- Jams & Preserves
- Smoothies
- Freezing

Features & Attributes:
Raspberry 'Prelude' features lush green foliage throughout the growing season, followed by clusters of white blossoms in spring that attract pollinators. Its bright red raspberries ripen in early summer, providing an early-season harvest and potentially a smaller fall crop.

This is a deciduous shrub with an upright, clumping growth habit. It is disease-resistant and well-adapted to various soil types, making it a reliable choice for home gardeners.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Raspberry 'Prelude' is suitable for the following landscape applications:
- Edible Hedges
- Home Gardens
- Wildlife Gardens

Planting & Growing:
Raspberry 'Prelude' will grow to be about 4-5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3-4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1-2 feet from the ground. It grows at a fast rate and, under ideal conditions, can be expected to live for 10-15 years.

This shrub thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It requires consistent moisture, particularly during fruit development, and benefits from an annual layer of mulch to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Pruning spent canes after fruiting encourages new growth and improves productivity.


Additional Characteristics:
- Early-Season Ripening
- High-Yielding
- Cold Hardy
- Disease Resistant
- Possible Fall Crop in Ideal Conditions