Topic: Raspberries

[Growing4twins]

Hi guys, this is the 1st year that i have purposely grown raspberries.  Ive been told that i need to prune them. when & how do i do this & does it really make a difference to the crop i get from the cane next year??

[pumkinlover]

summer or autumn fruiting?

[goodlife]

If they are summer raspberries..the fruited canes will die down and if you leave them on, they don't affect the next years crop but will take some space and make picking more difficult and eventually the rows get really untidy...so although it is extra work..well worth of doing.
Same reason apply to the autumn raspberries..but..autumn fruiting raspberry canes, those that have fruited are cut off during winter/spring..before the new canes start growing. With the autumn fruiting ones the old canes do fruit in their second year too..but after that they are done and need to come out.
If you want to keep the work to mimimum..you can manage your raspberry plot by cutting only the obviously stems off later on in the season..just before the leaf fall..then you are still able to see which canes don't have leaves and the new canes have already hardened off so you don't do too much damage by 'ripping in' between the plants.
If you leave too much dead growth on for long time..not only things get over growded but it reduce productivity and old canes can carry deseases that can spread on.

[Growing4twins]

Sorry for the delay in responding, i forgot i had started this thread lol.  Ok they are summer fruiting raspberrys.  Right then, let me get this straight, i need to prune the old wood but leave the new growth alone??  How far down do i cut the cane???

[goodlife]

Yep..you got it right..cut as far down you are comfortable bending.. ;) I cut mine leaving inch or two 'stumps'.

[Growing4twins]

Excellent, thanks Goodlife :)