feeding raspberries

[Sarah-b]

Have some pretty pathetic autumn fruiting raspberries. Have started to clear the weeds from around them and was wondering if a little feed would give them a boost?
If so, what and when?

Thanks,
Sarah.

[Sarah-b]

[cleo]

Hi-any slow release general purpose feed will do for now and then maybe a higher potash content feed later on.

Just one question-did you cut the canes hard back last year?

Stephan

[moonbells]

manure!

My autumn ones are currently 6" high and just about at the stage where I can surround them with the stuff (once I've picked out the bindweed from the heap!)

moonbells

[Sarah-b]

I did cut them back and they are about same height as your moonbells - but they are old and neglected - but a few raspberries keep the children amused for ages on the plot - so want to maximise their potential.

Will pick couchgrass out of my manure then...

[philcooper]

Sarah-b

Rasps are shallow rooting, so if they are competing for nutrients with weeds they will not perform their best.

So

remove weeds

give light dusting of blood fish and bone

top off with a mulch, FYM or compost preferably, otherwise grass cuttings, that will feed and keep the moisture in

Phil

[Sarah-b]

Will do.
Thanks.

[kitty]

i cant remember where i read this next bit...it may have been here......or was it kg?
anyway-can you plant summer fruiters and autumn fruiter together-just 'bung 'em in' like or if they have to be kept seperate -why?
thank!
kitty :D

[Palustris]

We feed all our soft fruit with Tonk's Formula Rose fertiliser early in the year.
Only reason that I can see for keeping Summer and Autumn fruiting raspberries separate is the different pruning regime

[kitty]

ta palustris!

so...
my next queston .....is.....
whats the prunin regime then...
(please!)
kitty ;D

[Palustris]

Summer fruiting rasps fruit on the canes produced the previous year, so all the canes which produced fruit are removed in Autumn( or at the end of the season whenever it is convenient)
Autumn fruiting rasps fruit on the growth produced this year, so the canes which produced fruit last year are removed in Spring!(February really, and it is usually every cane which is removed)
It is easy to see which to remove cos they get very manky by the time they have finished fruiting.

[kitty]

right!
thanks euphorbia man!
that sounds very straightfiorward-i'm a  bti of a dunce when it comes to pruning so.....
ta!
kitty
:D

[Palustris]

Euphorbia man?
Check the advice again, I have added a little to make it more accurate.

[kitty]

the advice was very clear thanks-so.......
you arent named after 'euphorbia palustris' then?
my mistake! ::)