Kitchen Garden Forum

I have an established bed of Rasperries that are in the wrong place, when is a good time to move. I had thought of moving half this year and more next year to avoid too much crop loss.

CoMpO

Now, but not durimg sub-zero spells.

I'm not really a raspberry expert but I would have thought the best time to move them is before the dormant canes start bursting into shoots again, which is probably about now, but obviously not if the ground is frozen.

I have not pruned them yet so was going to cut them down to the new canes from last year then move them as advised not into or from frozen ground.

Does this make sense to anyone with greater knowledge than I

CoMpO

I agree with the other posts, yes cut them down first and keep only the strongest canes.
The only other question I would ask is how long have you had them?
Raspberries really only last for about 10 years and after that the berries and new canes get smaller.
They are prone to viruses to so only move if you are sure they are healthy.

I have seen generous plotholders offer canes they have dug up to others on the allotment who planted them only to find they had really come to the end of their life. and been very disappointed. Having waited a year to find out if they will fruit.

Might be worth investing in new stock.
Beryl.

I agree with Beryl - very sound advice there.
If you have the slightest doubt about your existing plants don't bother to move them. Invest in some new virus-free stock from a proper fruit supplier not from a garden centre, where the quality of their plants might be doubtful. Now is a good time to order.
Keep your existing bed going so that you will get a crop for this year. A new bed will get established this year and start giving you fruit in 2012. Your old bed can be dug up after fruiting this Summer and all the old canes and roots burnt to destroy any infected material.

John

PS If you are going for new stock try 'Glen Ample'.

I seond that John - Glen Ample is my favourite.
Beryl.

Well these canes have been donated from plotholder to plot holder now for the five years I have been there with no apparent complaing of viruses or drop in yield.

My thoughts are that they do not owe me anything at all so I am going to move them and keep them going. Surely this is what the nurseries do?

CoMpO