Allotments 4 All

Some years ago I remember going to a pick-your-own raspberry farm. The canes were so dense that, if mum was on one side of the 'hedge' and me the other, we couldn't see each other. Best of all the canes were so tall that I was reaching up under the higher leaves to pick the fruit. And the berries were huge too!

I've just been bent double picking my raspberries - not a lot of fun when your back is busted in two places! I've already freecycled my lovely gooseberries and red-, white- and black currant bushes because picking was so painful. Pease can anyone tell me if I can get some tall-growing raspberry canes - or were the huge ones I remember all down to the skill of the professional grower?

Thank you!

I was given 10 of the tall rasberry canes last winter from a fellow plottie. They are around 8ft tall he must have about 80,could beg some for you in next couple of months when they can be dug out. I don't mind sending them to you .

I find Joan J is quite tall.  Now that Glen Ample is in it's third year and settled in, that has produced some tall canes.  You don't say how old your canes are - but maybe the height is an age thing?  Can you tell I'm an expert (not) :-[

I seem to remember reading that Tulameen is pretty tall.

Hang around and someone who knows what they are talking about will stop by.........

The "summer" fruiting raspberry varieties tend to be taller than the "autumn" fruiting type, the summer being the sort where you keep overwinter the new canes that have grown during the year and not fruited.

We have the ever-bearing "Heritage" which gives an early summer and a fall crop. They are quite short the first
year or two then get tall- I'm guessing 6+ feet.  I prune them down to about calf height in the dead of winter.
I think it might be true that if they weren't pruned that low they'd be taller and the berries would be higher up.

I've got a row of Joan J - this is their 2nd year and they are 4 - 5+ ft tall at present. Ate the first one on Saturday  ;D although as they are autumn fruiting they won't really get into their stride for a while yet. Would heartily recommend them. Also much easier re pruning than all that faffing around with summer ones, and don't need wires and staking.

Thanks all!

I have both summer and winter types - all mature - and all only 3' to 4' tall.

Joan J sounds promising. As you say, plot51A, autumn ones are so much less bother at pruning time and I'm all for an easy life now!

admjh1 -  What a kind offer! Thank you. If you could manage to beg a few canes for me I would be so grateful - and very happy to refund your postage. Do you want me to pm my address to you? 

Could probably send you some Joan J in the winter - have never lifted/split raspberries before but it sounds quite straightforward. The growth mine have put on is amazing so they will probably need some taming  ;D Pm me later in the year if you're interested - might lose your address if you send it now.

Thanks very much, plot 51A - another very kind offer. I look forward to 'taming' a few of your beasts! What lovely people there are on this site! I'll pm my address to you in the autumn, shall I? (Obviously I'm very happy to cover the cost of your postage.) Thanks again.