Solitary chicken - need advice

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I got 4 or 5 canes from my neighbour earlier this year which have taken well and produced a handful of fruit.

 

There are new shoots coming from each plant. Do I cut back to the ground all the old canes and leave the new ones as they are? Do I take any of the growth off the top? They're quite tall and getting blown about (I need to put better supports in, I know).

 

Should I separate any plants? There seems to be one that has 2 or 3 new shoots.

 

Any advice gratefully received .

[Valkyrie]

It depends on the type of raspberry. Normally they fruit on the previous year's long shoots - which is perhaps what you have (you will need to check with your neighbour). Tie them in and leave them. The other version is the autumn one which is pruned in late winter.

This is what the RHS book says (abbreviated a fair bit):

Raspberry Year 1

Tie in the new canes to support wires as they grow. Do not weave them in and out or they may chafe. New canes may need holding up with string at first. As soon as cropping is finished, cut fruited canes at the base. Where there is lots of new growth, retain only the strongest canes. During winter soft canes may be damaged by frost, so in late winter tip prune to remove any damaged growth. If shoots are growing up more than 8 inches away should be removed as seen - hoe them away lightly (unless you need to make it into a new plant - which should be removed with as much root as possible).

They have a life span of about 12 years, but if the next summer's crop is small the plants are probably not worth keeping - they may be too old or have a viral infection, so site new canes elsewhere.

 

Autumn-Fruiting Raspberries

 

Plant and prune as for summer cultivars. At the winter's end but before any sign of growth all canes are cut to the ground. As the new canes grow remove weak or damaged growth. Do not tip prune since much of the fruit is borne at the top of the canes. Replace when cropping declines.

 

Hope that helps. Now watch out for frost!

[bluekarin]

I need to sort out my raspberry canes. The new shoots are nearly 6ft tall! and I haven't cut back the old stuff. I was amazed at how many raspberry's we got seeing as it was their first year. Good old Woolies plants. Miss them for that really.

[Christian]

I planted 'Autumn Bliss' back in March (I think) and it has done really well.

 

I prefer the autumn fruiting raspberries, as when they have fruited, you just cut back the canes and wait until next year. I am too secateur happy and wouldn't have the patience to cut out last years, tie in this years etc with summer fruiting varieties.

 

Had a few handfuls so far and lots more fruit still to ripen. Now I need a fruit cage to stop those pesky sparrows

[Cinnamon]

I am too secateur happy and wouldn't have the patience to cut out last years, tie in this years etc with summer fruiting varieties.

 

Spoken like a true bloke

 

I think I may prefer the Autumn ones too,in that case, & may hang on before I get them.

Do they have to grow up anything,or do you just bung 'em in the ground?

[Karen & co.]

Go for the autumn raspberries grow fruit and cut back down in one season, easy peasy I don't grow mine up anything but I guess you could do as it would make picking them easier.

 

Karen x

[Cinnamon]

I an certainly going to now - full approval of the family!

 

I have one raised be with a couple of Artichokes in, which will come up every year, so it makes sence to me to bung something else permenant in there too

And I do love raspberries............

[saracook31]

I've posted asking this same question before, but am still confused!

 

I bought 6 plants & have now planted them out at the allotment.. they were small this year but produced some fruit & look reasonably healthy! But there aren't many new canes appearing at all so am a bit worried about cutting any of this years back!