I lay them out on a nonstick cookie sheet, freeze till firm and then vacuum seal at a slightly lower setting to avoid crushing.

So yes, you can. It does give you more versatility in deciding how you want to use the thawed berries.

Carol

Thats the way I freeze them here. But for strawberries, I found that slicing, and adding sweetener helps to keep the color and flavor better once frozen.

Desertmarcy -

I bit OT, sorry, but am interested in what kind of raspberry - is it the Baba type?

Last year, I planted some Babas and they spread well, but I dug them up to do more soil amending. We have sand (you too?) to grow things in, and it needs lots of compost added.

Anyway, I have about 4 starters now - but was wondering if other raspberries would grow here too. My boysenberries were super this year too - still picking and picking.

Also have a thornless type black berry (about 6 inches tall now) that I hope will grow in my climate.

Any helpful hints appreciated.

Bejay

Desertmarcy, I freeze all berries 'as is' - blackberries, raspberries, blueberries

When thawed, I can add sugar as per their use, whether I'm making jam, desserts, pies.

And congratulations on your crop!

I like the red raspbarry called Lauren. Its a thornless type, and they send up new shoots nearby the previous. I had to cut off a few that errupted 5 feet away however. Mine are in soil covered by oak leaves. Used to get some puny yellowish plants a few years ago, but after an application of copper sulfate and Gardens Alive fruit tree fertilizer (maintenance blend), my berries are huge, compared to the little guys my dad used to grow. Can't grow boysens here in my zone, and they are my favorites too.

Bejay, the raspberries I have are Dormanred. I got them from Womack Nursery in Texas. Funny story, I originally ordered 10 Rosborough blackberry plants from them, and they mixed up the order and sent the raspberries instead. Well, raspberries are said to not do well here, and the nursery did sent the right plants when I called them, but who could throw out perfectly good plants?? So into 5 gallon containers they went, having no prepared place for them. And there they have been, ever since, except the ones spreading and rooting themselves all around my "grove" of containers! I never did get them planted on a trellis as recommended. Last year, I had only a handful of berries. This past Jan., we had a long and very cold spell, getting down to 21 degrees in my yard (very unusual for Tucson) and I'm wondering if the cold winter contributed to success with these. Womack states Dormanred is "the only raspberry variety which will withstand the South's hot summer days".

Suggest you plant those in the soil. In a bucket or container they will be very crowded in no time, and will try to put more energy into making runners. I have had very good results after adding that fruit tree fertilizer from GA. Mine ripen about mid to late July. and only produce a single crop per year here in Z6.