raspberry advice needed please

[Clare]

Hello. I wonder if anyone can give this novice gardener some tips about raspberries please. I planted six canes last autumn (half early fruiting, half autumn) and so far only two (one of each kind) have produced some suckers. The other four have only produced some shoots from the original cane. My question is should I cut off these shoots, in order to promote sucker growth, or is there any chance of getting some fruit off these shoots growing from the original cane.

Many thanks for any tips.
Clare

[Speedy]

Hello Clare,

My raspberries have been very slow this year possibly down to the cold weather so don't panic. The autumn ones should be cut down to just above ground level in February as they then produce fruit on the new growth, so hopefully you should get a crop this year. The early fruiting will produce fruit on last years growth so don't touch them now, but when they have finished fruiting you cut the old growth out (in the autumn) leaving the new shoots to produce fruit next year.

I hope this helps

Regards

Speedy

[bigpepperplant]

Hi, I'm having trouble knowing what to do with my raspberries too (planted last November).

So, just to clarify, the summer-fruiting ones that are now beginning to sprout from the foot-high old canes should not be touched...? They are producing spawn too.

The autumn ones are a bit of a worry - I planted ten and only four have emerged. (I cut them right down to ground level in early March.) The ones that have appeared are about six inches tall. Should I be worried or will the others appear?

Also, because the bed was looking a bit dry I have put some dried lawn mowings on as a mulch. Is this a good idea or will it smother any emerging spawn?

Sorry for the million questions - I'm sure raspberries seem really simple when you've been through a year cycle but I'm still a novice...

thanks in advance

[sandersj89]

In their first year the autumn ones can be a bit slow in getting going. I popped some in last autumn and they are only just showing green where as the older ones, same variety, are romping away.

Mulching is a good idea as they like moist, but not soaking, feet. I normally muclch with well rotted manure.

HTH

Jerry

[Clare]

Thanks for those tips. I did cut the canes down to about 10cm when I planted them, so hopefully this will promote growth of new suckers. But with the autumn-fruiting ones, do you think cutting the shoots off the original canes would also help?

Thanks - Clare