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Autumn Raspberry question

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small:
I've had a wonderful crop from my Joan J canes this year, but they are pretty much finished now. I usually follow the book and prune in February - but what is the downside of pruning now? I'll have a much better chance of eliminating the bindweed and generally clearing the area if I do it now, but obviously I don't want to jeopardise next year's crop. What does anyone else here do?

Tee Gee:
Although I agree with February pruning and understand your predicament, you could risk cutting out the older (darker) canes to ground level and this should improve your access to the Bindweed with affecting next year's growth and cropping too much.

small:
Thanks, TeeGee, but all the canes are this year's, I cut everything right back in February. I don't see that leaving these now finished canes another three months does any good? Or would they start to regrow too soon? Does anyone else cut autumn rasps back early?

Tee Gee:
What was in my mind let’s say you removed 40%-50% of the total canes to give you better access to the Bindwood I was thinking  the remaining canes would sustain the plant /s until the normal pruning time in February when you would cut down the remaining stems.

However I must say this only an idea in my mind based on what I would do if my canes had become diseased or contaminated in some way!

The choice is your

Beersmith:
Isn't  "Joan j" a primocane type of raspberry?

So the normal method would be to remove all canes close to ground level when fully dormant.  They will regrow in spring and fruit in the autumn.  If cutting the old canes out earlier will help to keep your bed weed free I don't think it will do any harm at all.

If it was a floricane variety things would be different.  Floricane fruiting varieties crop earlier and carry the fruit on last year's canes.  Pruning all the cranes would mean no fruit next year.

If you are 100% sure you are dealing with "Joan j" don't hesitate.

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