Raspberries/seed bed

[longpod]

Hi All,

I need to pick your brains again, with two questions not related to each other, I need the advice for a bit for forward planning.
1. Can I use my current raspberry plants to start a new raspberry bed, if so how would I go about it?

2. I would like to start a seed bed, and need an idiots guide. I have an area that is partly shaded would this be suitable?

Once again many thanks for your patience.

Jeanne

[Geoff]

I assume we are talking summer raspberries. Traditional advice would say wait until the raspberries are dormant, cut them right down, move them and grow new canes next year for the year after, i.e. lose your crop for one year. You could move half, space them out more and still have some next year.
However, there have been adverts in recent times for canes you plant and crop in the first year. Unless these are some sort of special variety it suggests you can just move them. Interested to know what others think or have experienced.
There is a thread in Growing Places about creating a seed bed. I think the concensus is don't bother use modules instead.

[Compo]

My variety of raspberries are prolific and put out many runners so where ever you move them too make sure you account for this becauses runners in your rhubarb and even in your greenhouse aren't fun!!

I agree about the seedbed stick to modules and trays, build a cold frame to put them in rather than a seed bed.

Compo

[longpod]

Thanks for the advice, the raspberries are summer fruiting, and I have plenty of space, though take your point of them spreading every where, so will be extra vigilant as to where I plant them. The advice on the seed bed will save me a head ache or should I say back ache! Thanks again.

Jeanne

[PLUMPUDDING]

Last year I selected strong new canes that had come up away from the original row and dug them up with a good bit of root and planted them at the end of the row to extend it a bit. They have all taken well and are sending up new canes. I got a few fruit off them too. I've top dressed the row with well rotted manure (fortunately not contaminated) and they are doing really well. I wouldn't bother with the thin spindly canes it is best to pull these out and just keep the strong ones.

[Johnboy]

Hi Longpod,
If you follow best practice methods of growing Raspberries they are easy to maintain, easy to pick and do not become invasive.
JB.