There is something truly special about raspberries, and here in the UK, the summer-fruiting varieties are hitting their absolute peak right now in July.

It helps to understand how they grow to get the best out of them. Summer-fruiting raspberries are fascinating because they carry their crop on the canes that developed during the previous summer. This means all that vigorous green growth you see shooting up right now is actually preparing to provide your harvest for next July. It is a completely different rhythm compared to the autumn-fruiting varieties, such as the reliable ‘Autumn Bliss’, which are busy producing their fruit on the new-season’s growth that emerged this spring.

There is a unique freshness and an undeniable seasonal magic to these summer raspberries that makes them a highlight of the year. We have developed a lovely ritual of heading out into the garden to pick a bowlful just before supper. There is nothing quite like eating them while they are still warm from the lingering heat of the evening sun, perhaps with just a little splash of cream to finish them off. It really is heaven!

Since these summer berries are so prolific right now, it is the perfect time to enjoy them at their freshest. They don’t store particularly well, so trying to get them from the cane to the table as quickly as possible is the best way to enjoy that intense, sun-ripened flavour. It is one of those simple, fleeting pleasures of the gardening year that reminds us exactly why we put in the hard work during the colder months.