Autumn raspberries planted late only 5 out of 20 have green growth

[Crystalmoon]

Hi everyone I have a new allotment & didn't get the Autumn Raspberries into the ground until very late due to not having the plot at the right time & then the super wet havy clay soil being too wet to work. All 20 are firmly rooted as they do not budge if I give them a tug (done gently but firmly). Only 5 out of the 20 have any green growth at all. The weather has been very odd so I don't know if this is the issue? I definitely planted them correctly, used rooting powder etc. Any ideas? Am I just being impatient & worrying for nothing? I am concerned that the canes that have not shown any growth are never going to. Jane

[Crystalmoon]

[Crystalmoon]

Sorry I forgot to say the plants do have a guarantee on them so in theory I can get replacements for any that fail but I don't actually know if they are failing....or if they just need longer to establish. I have never planted Autumn ones before.

[Crystalmoon]

Also should I cut back the original cane on the ones that have new green growth? sorry for all the questions...clearly I don't know much about growing them lol Jane

[Deb P]

I planted my autumn fruiting raspberries in December last year, and about a month ago I was also getting concerned that some were not sprouting. I cut mine back after planting, some put out sprouts from the shoots, others sprouted from the base. I dug three up that showed neither and the roots were minimal so I cut my losses and chucked them, they were all the golden variety and I had some of the dwarf ruby beauty in pots so just replaced them with those instead. I could have claimed against T&M that supplied them, but couldn't be bothered TBH!

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Deb P mine are Autumn Bliss & Polka & I didn't get to plant them until the end of April which I know is very late indeed. I didn't cut mine back after planting. I think today I will cut back completely the ones that are showing growth & trim back the others. If all 16 that aren't showing growth fail I think I will have to claim back the money as I paid just under £10 for 5 canes. The roots were really big & strong on all of them when they were planted out as they came rooted in pots of soil when I bought them. Jane

[Deb P]

We're these supplied as  bare rooted plants or in pots? Sorry, just read the above and you said pots! I think it may be a bit early to give up on them yet. I'd give them a good soak once a week and see what happens, mine were bare rooted and only really starting to put on decent top growth in the past four weeks.....they do like to sulk a bit when moved, but once established usually go all over the place!

[Crystalmoon]

Thanks Deb P I cut back the old canes on the ones that are showing new growth & trimmed the canes on the others to try to encourage some growth. I will wait a couple of moths before seeking a refund as they were rooted in pots when I bought them so shouldn't in theory take as long to establish themselves. I just noticed you are in Derby. My middle son lives there, he curates photographic exhibitions & works at the Quad in Derby's Cathedral Quarter. I will be visiting Derby for a weeks holiday mid June.

[Deb P]

I know QUAD well, often go there to see theatre live beambacks and films. If you want to visit the lotties here when you are around, pm me!

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Deb I think I may have walked by the allotments in the past if they are near the City centre. We usually visit when the Format festival is on but as that is when my son is busiest we thought we would visit this year instead (I will probably still visit while Format is on but most likely without my husband). My son went to Derby University to study Photography & decided to stay on after graduating. Myself & my husband plan to go to see ancient sites in the area, standing stones etc on this visit. I will PM you later this week once I know better what our actual plans for the week are, thank you for the invite, hope I can get to meet you xjane 

[Deb P]

I doubt it was our site you saw, it isn't visible from the road at all, it's nice and secluded! The Normanton allotments are near ours and visible from a main road so it could have been those I reckon.
My OH used to take us on long walks looking for standing stones in the Peak District, we trampled through forest for hours on one memorable occasion!

Let me know your availability of you'd like to visit, I work shifts which are more  difficult to change these days as I work part time now, but hopefully my days off will coincide. I'm at GWL on the 16th as well, looking forward to a spending spree!

[Crystalmoon]

Just an update on what happened with the new raspberries....the only 5 that have grown are Polka the 15 that have failed were all Autumn Bliss. I had bought them all from my local Wyevale. i took photos & some of the dead canes in to the garden centre & they have refunded me in full. They said there has been a terrible failure rate with the Autumn Bliss they supplied this year. So if any one else has had problems with this variety bought from Wyevale they will definitely refund you.

[Deb P]

Result then! The only raspberries that failed for me this new planting year were the autumn gold ones........so similar fates. 

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Deb, I was wondering about the Autumn Gold variety....not sure what to buy this Autumn to replace the ones that didn't work...tempted to try Autumn Bliss again as you can double crop them but don't want another failed year  xJane

[johhnyco15]

I've always grown zeva from j parkers large sweet Autumn variety however it grows around 6ft tall but has huge yield hope this helps ps and they are very cheap and never let me down  even in my light sandy soil if your were nearer id give some runners that im always pulling up just picked the first of them today they will fruit untill at least november then the grey mould gets them

[Crystalmoon]

Thanks Johhny I will have a look into the variety you suggest as I actually took on a new allotment because I missed raspberries so much & they are the only thing I have had a problem growing  typical eh!