Raspberry help......

[pjb]

I've got about 20 Raspberry canes on my new allotment that I'm presuming are autumn fruiting (they still have fruit on them), they're looking a bit "leggy" and....... well straggly (only description I can think of) and I'm sure they haven't been touched in say 3 years. Would I be better off just digging them out and replacing them or can they be pruned right back?
I'd prefer the pruning approach as the flavour is superb and there's no sign of disease etc... but how and when do I do said pruning (if that's the best course of action)? Would they come back as good Raspberry bushes if pruned?

Thanks.  :)

[pjb]

[silly billy]

When they have finished fruiting cut the canes down to ground level and they will regrow in spring. Don't dig them up as the new canes you replace them with won't fruit in their 1st year so you will miss out on fruit.

[bedrockdave]

hi if they're autumn variety leave them until Jan or Feb then prune to groung level

[OllieC]

I'd cut down to about a foot, give a good mulch and see what happend next year.

If you do this, worst case scenario is no fruit next year (if they're summer ones). If they're Autumn ones, you'll get a crop next year. So, by cutting down, you get them nice & tidy and you'll find out whether they're Autumn or Summer fruiting so you know how to look after them in future!

Good luck!

[Old bird]

Hi

I cut down my autumn fruiting ones this week - just after the first frost and they had still a few fruit on them - then I got my copy of Kitchen Garden or Grow your Own out and they said leave them until February.  I can't see that I would have done any harm to them.  I then will give them a good dressing of manure and leave them to their own devices.

The summer ones I cut back when they finished fruiting and now the stalks are 8 feet high and will bear the fruit for next summer.

I would keep the plants you have - just feed them and you should get loads of fruit!

I have so many raspberry canes that I now make Raspberry Gin and Vodka - flippin delicious - really easy to make and a beautiful colour!

Mixed with Cava - it makes a deliciious pretty raspberry flavoured VERY intoxicating drink!!

Cheers
Good luck!

[angle shades]

 :)

I grow Autumn Bliss and  cut the canes down to ground level end of Jan, had more raspberries than I knew what to do with this year :)

Old bird that sounds fab, will have a go next year ;D/ shades x

[davholla]

:)

I grow Autumn Bliss and  cut the canes down to ground level end of Jan, had more raspberries than I knew what to do with this year :)

Old bird that sounds fab, will have a go next year ;D/ shades x

How many canes did you have ?

[angle shades]

 :) originally 7/ shades x

[OllieC]

The fruit farm I used to work on used to run a tractor with cutter attached over them at this time of year. I don't reckon the timing's all that important!

[Suzanne]

Old Bird - fab recipe I will definitely give it a go. Although my typing may sffuer!

I took on a new allotment this year with lots of reaspberry canes and had no idea what they were (summer or autumn). I found that the longer serving residents on the site not only were able to tell me which type they were but gave precise instruction on what I needed to do to make them behave themselves. Have to say tehy were crack on and I didn't know what to do with al the fruit I had.......But I do now, I hope your recipie works with frozen fruit Old Bird.

By the way they were autumn fruiting which I cut down in mid Feb, mulched and put a new carpet path between the rows (all 5 of them at 5m each!).  I am probably going to give away some roots next year as I can't use this amount of raspberries even if i do make alcoholic beverages from them.