Kitchen Garden Forum

Over the past few years a 25ft row of raspberry canes (Glen Ample) has died....new canes grow well until the fruit starts to turn colour and then the cane shrivels and dies. Large gaps are left in the row and now there is almost nothing left. What has caused this and should I be worried for my Autumn raspberries close by?

Hi Janina - sorry to hear about your raspberries.

I've looked in my doctor Hessayon book, and perhaps it could be cane spot. Here's what he says:
Raspberries and loganberries can be seriously affected. In early summer small purple spots appear on the canes. These enlarge to form shallow white pits with a purple border. The cane may be killed. Cut out badly diseased canes in autumn. Next spring spray with supercarb (not sure what chemical this is, or if still available) at 14 day intervals from bud burst until the blossom appears.

Hope this helps.
Vivien

Hi Janina,
Are you sure that you do not have Vine Weevil lurking in the Raspberry bed. I had VW several years back and they hit my Raspberries quite badly.
If you have a little dig around now you will do no damage. The grubs will be quite small at present but they will chew the roots off the plants and as Raspberries are shallow rooted they have nothing to sustain them.
JB.

Hi Vivien and Johnboy
Yes I had considered cane spot but have never seen the purple spots. A quick google for supercarb suggests everybody recommends but nobody sells!
Had not thought about vine weevil and will check but wouldn't the dead canes snap off easily if this was the cause?