Early from mid-July
It begins before many other raspberries that fruit on new canes.
1
Rubus idaeus LOWBERRY® ‘Little Sweet Sister’ 13cm
Normal price
€12,00
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Rubus idaeus LOWBERRY® ‘Little Sweet Sister’ 13cm
Normal price
€12,00
Rubus idaeus LOWBERRY® ‘Little Sweet Sister’
A world first in raspberries — compact size and super-early cropping 🍓
- Approximately 80cm high
- Harvest from mid-July
- Sweet dark-red fruit
- Simple winter pruning
Rubus idaeus LOWBERRY® ‘Little Sweet Sister’ brings freshly picked raspberries within reach of the terrace table. Its short, upright canes carry dark-red fruit with a sweet, fruity flavour and a gentle touch of acidity. The low, full silhouette gives a single pot the character of a small edible garden. Successive waves of ripening fruit turn an ordinary visit to the terrace into another chance to pick something delicious.
Set beside seating, the fruit remains visible among the compound leaves and comfortably within reach. It also works at the front of a small kitchen garden, where its low silhouette leaves the view open. A simple, single-colour pot lets the red harvest stand out against the foliage.
What makes it special
‘Little Sweet Sister’ combines genuinely dwarf size with unusually early fruiting on new canes.
Compact without a trellis
Short strong canes stand in a large container with only a small support.
Sweet red fruit
Medium dark-red berries offer clean sweet flavour for fresh picking.
Why you will love it: It quickly gives a real harvest where a classic tall raspberry would be impractical.
In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsA large container on a bright terrace, with cool roots and easy access around the low crown.
Ideal position
Give sun or bright partial shade and a container of at least 30–40 litres. On a hot terrace choose morning sun and shade the pot.
Compatible combinations
Three very low flowering plants surround the container without hiding the small fruiting shrub.
- Thymus serpyllum — An aromatic flowering mat along the sunny edge.
- Lobularia maritima — White fragrance and a steady presence of pollinators around the container.
- Tagetes tenuifolia — Small golden flowers brighten the foreground without bulk.
Care at a glance
Light
Sun or bright partial shade; afternoon protection during prolonged heat.
Water
Even moisture from flowering until the end of harvest.
Climate & hardiness
Very good hardiness to about −20°C; insulate the container during prolonged frost.
Safety
Wash fully ripe fruit before eating.
Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.
Soil & roots
Plant in deep fertile soil that drains well yet stays cool. Add organic mulch around the roots without covering the cane bases.
Watering
Water deeply when the top few centimetres dry. Even moisture from flowering to harvest helps fruit fill uniformly.
Habit and canes
The low crown normally stands without a tall support. A low ring can help heavily loaded canes. Thin only weak, overcrowded new growth and leave the tips intact.
Feeding
In early spring add mature compost and a balanced fruit-plant feed according to its label. Avoid excess nitrogen.
Summer care
Mulch the roots, remove weeds by hand and pick frequently. During prolonged heat, provide light afternoon shade.
Prevent problems
Do not crowd the centre, keep the container evenly moist and pick every one or two days from mid-July.
From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.
Pollination
It is self-fertile and crops alone. Bees and bumblebees help the berries develop evenly.
When it ripens
Harvest begins very early, from mid-July, and continues in waves through summer.
How to harvest
Pick when fruit is deep red and releases cleanly with a gentle lift.
Fruit protection
Secure netting to a separate frame as fruit begins to colour and leave easy access for frequent picking.
After planting: keep canes complete, water consistently and add a low support only if they lean.
Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate winter, complete low cut
When to prune
Late winter, complete low cut
‘Little Sweet Sister’ fruits on canes grown in the same year. In late winter cut the entire old set 3–5cm above soil and in spring retain a few strong new canes.
01
CUT
Cut old canes low
Action: In late winter, cut all old canes that carried fruit down close to ground level.
Retain: Retain the crown and any new buds beginning to emerge.
02
THIN
Give new growth room
Action: Remove only weak new canes where the clump is very overcrowded.
Retain: Retain strong new canes with air between them and intact tips.
03
RETAIN
The tips carry fruit
Action: As this year’s canes develop, do not pinch out their tips.
Retain: Retain the upper nodes and tips where flowers and fruit develop.
New / productive — retainOlder canes or stemsCut pointRemoved growth
Clean tools
Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.
In late winter
Let foliage fall and make the low cut once canes are dormant.
Do not do this: Do not tip it to keep it lower; compact form is natural and fruit forms high on new canes.
Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.
Low new canes
Short strong shoots rise from a clean crown in spring.
Early flowering
Upper nodes form flowers earlier than on many autumn raspberries.
Fruit at hand height
Red berries ripen around the outside of the low crown.
Mature habit & dimensions
Mature form in 2 yearsHeight 0.7–0.9mSpread 0.5–0.7mDwarf upright shrub
Several short canes rise from the crown and fruit towards their tops in the same year. The low habit keeps harvesting accessible without a tall trellis.
Form through the seasons
New canes in spring · fruit from mid-JulyLOWBERRY®Fruits on new canesVery early
Summer · fruitingSeveral short canes rise from the crown and fruit towards their tops in the same year. The low habit keeps harvesting accessible without a tall trellis.
Winter · dormancyAfter leaf fall, the crown and woody stems remain. Pruning follows this plant’s specific fruiting cycle.
The studies show habit and seasonal development; growth varies with age, climate and cultivation.
What to expect after planting: Short strong shoots rise from a clean crown in spring.
History & originCultivar originA Lubera programme selection for a genuinely dwarf, very early raspberry in the LOWBERRY® range.
Rubus idaeus LOWBERRY® ‘Little Sweet Sister’ was introduced within Lubera’s family of small fruiting plants. The collection brings harvests to smaller gardens and pots through plants with naturally restrained growth.
In this selection, cane growth switches early to flowering and fruit forms within the same growing season. That developmental pattern explains its low habit and early start to cropping. Its story is that of a raspberry adapted to a smaller scale, combining dark-red, flavourful fruit with successive ripening.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour
Early cessation of elongation
The tip switches early from vegetative to floral growth. Once flower differentiation begins, strong cane elongation stops and the habit remains compact.
Same-year fruiting
Flower buds differentiate without the cane first requiring winter dormancy. New cane, flower and ripe fruit can therefore occur within one growing season.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.
01Does it need another plant?
It is self-fertile and crops alone. Bees and bumblebees help the berries develop evenly.
02How large does it become?
0.7–0.9m high and approximately 0.5–0.7m wide, with the habit described above.
03Is it suitable for a container?
Yes, it is designed for a 30–40-litre container with low support and consistent watering.
04When is the fruit picked?
From mid-July, once dark-red fruit releases cleanly from the core.
05Does it need a tall trellis?
No. A low circular support is enough only to keep heavily loaded canes upright.
06When should it be pruned?
In late winter every old cane is cut 3–5cm above soil.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.