Raspberries

[southernsteve]

Hi all

Got a problem with my autumn raspberries. I moved them onto my lotti from my garden in the late winter, before they really started to shoot. They took ok though the canes were a bit short and week, and are currently fruiting well considering. However new canes are shooting up already, some are 5 feet tall. I assume these are next years canes, or are they? Should I leave them and see what happens. I may even get a bumper late crop if the frost stays away. Or should I cut them back and hope new canes come up in the spring, as they should.

Thanks, Steve

[southernsteve]

[jjt]

I'd leave them, hope for a crop as you say, and cut the lot down in February/March. It's just the move delayed them I expect.

[OllieC]

If you leave them you'll get an early crop next year - before normal early ones. Don't cut them down in February/March, cut them down after they've fruited!

[allotmenteer62]

 my raspberries are cropping well little bit of mildew on some i plan to to cut mine to ground level in feb including new summer growth i dont think it will make any difference you may get some early fruit if left not enough to worry about sacrifice them and have a good crop next year

[OllieC]

I disagree, having worked on a fruit farm when we trialled it on half an acre of Autumn Bliss. Really, the only disadvantage of doing it my way is that the pruning is very slightly fiddly compared to the other way - driving over them with a tractor & cutter. This makes it not worth the effort on a commercial scale, but absurd not to on a domestic scale.

Many people miss out on the early crop from primocanes for no good reason.

[jjt]

So, by doing it like that you get an early crop and still the normal late crop? I'll have a closer look at mine to see exactly what is going on in the jungle. I could  certainly try it on half the row. But how come this is not widely known? Do you risk exhausting the plants? Unlikely,they could do with a bit of slowing down anyway I find. Thanks for that anyway.

[OllieC]

It touches upon it on this RHS page:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0203/raspberries.asp

I would say that the main reasons it's not more widely known is that most research on fruit production is for commercial growers. I have seen it discussed on here by others - it's not just me being a whack!!!  :P

[caroline7758]

Will definitely try that!

[KittyKatt]

If you leave them you'll get an early crop next year - before normal early ones. Don't cut them down in February/March, cut them down after they've fruited!

I agree! I tried this method this year on my Autumn Bliss, keeping the new canes and the best canes that had fruited, and cutting out the rest. I did feed them well, and I have had an amazing crop, picking the first fruits on 5th June this year. I have had a steady supply of raspberries all through the summer, and have eaten them fresh off the canes, also in yogurt and with cream, made  jam and numerous deserts, there are bags of raspberries in the freezer, I have given loads away to friends and I am still picking now! I shall be definitely doing the same next year, and also with my Allgold, which were new this year, but have also given a very good crop.
Kitty Katt