Topic: Raspberries - what to do?

[campanula]

Hello, fruit experts,
I have planted some raspberries - 10midsummer (Malling Admiral) and 10 autumn (Galante)- what do I do now. I had a feeling that the autumn ones at least should be pruned back after planting but not certain. Also, the Galante ones are supposed to be good for two crops a season- can't quite see how that can be butI think that they are meant to be pruned after harvest and there will be an early crop the following season. What about the next autumn then?

[Mrs Ava]

No idea Campanula, however, when you are picking, I will willingly come and help you!  YUMYUM   :P

[campanula]

thanks. Emma-Jane and Mega - the raspberries are bare-rooted so little more than 2foot twigs really. I amgoing to leave the summer ones and chop the autumn ones down to about 30cm.
looking forward to raspberry pavlovas...yum ;D

[Palustris]

Mega is right. Autumn fruiting ones produce fruit on the new canes, so cut them down to about 9inches after planting. Summer fruiting raspberries produce fruiit on the canes produced from July onwards and which over-winter. I would leave the new ones of these alone. In future, cut out he Summer fruited canes as soon as they have finished bearing. Cut the Autumn ones back to the ground in February. Both types like rich moisture retentive soil and lots of food. Have fun and enjoy the fruit when it comes. Don't like 'em myself.

[Mrs Ava]

Don't like raspberry's!   :o

[Chloe]

My rasberry canes arrived yesterday.  Any tips on giving them a good start in life?  Grew them many years ago and didn't look after them but would like to take these ones seriously and get good crops in the years to come.  Don't even know how far to plant them apart.

[Palustris]

Dig out a trench about 2 feet wide and as long as you need and a good spade depth. Fork in  2 to 3 inches of well rotted manure or compost in to the bottom and put back the soil, adding some bonemeal if you use it or what ever general plant food you prefer. Plant the canes about 18 inches apart and about 3 inches deep. If they are Summer fruiting varieties, cut the canes down to a bud about 9 to 12 inches above ground. In Spring feed with the kind of food recommended for Roses (Tonk's Rose Fertiliser) or which ever type of plant food you like to use. I would also spread a good mulch over the bed as well. Raspberries like a deep rich moisture retentive soil.

[Chloe]

Thank you for that advice, Palustris.  I'll look forward to doing on Saturday.

[Palustris]

If you can, at the same time, you should put in the supporting framework for the canes to be tied to. Posts and wire are the usual method, otherwise the canes flop around. Can be done afterwards, but  some support is definitel needed.

[carloso]

do the roots spread all over ???  ???

[Palustris]

Yes!. But not as widely as wild raspberries, they are s.....s. (boars really if they are wild, but you know what I mean.)

[john_miller]

When I was in college I do remember raspberries being described as heavy feeders. The suggestion being to supply a little N just as the shoots appear and then a high K fertiliser as the buds become apparent. A University of Wisconsin site I just googled recommends 150gms of ammonium nitrate per 10 sq. m. (that is about 75gms of N per 10 sq. m. if anyone wants to use a different source). As Eric said K would come from a tomato or rose fertiliser. This would be on an annual basis.