Allotments 4 All

Inamongst the triffid farm that I call my allotment I have some summer fruiting raspebrries, they were planted in spring and bore fruit this year. I'm very confused whether to trim the oldest bits down to the ground or not, or leave these to try and fruit next year.

What would people recommend and at what age do the oldest runners (correct term?) stop producing fruit?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

With summer fruiting, you cut out the canes that bore fruit this year, and leave the others. Autumn fruiting ones are completley cut down each year.

I cut down summer fruiting once I've picked all the fruit and leave the non-fruiting (new) shoots for next year.
I used to cut the autumn fruiting to the ground in January/ February, but now I leave them since some fruit again in June. Then I cut down the ones that have fruited and leave the others.

Many thanks, I can't remember which canes fruited this year - it wan't many though!

They may still have dried up tiny fruit on them?or be a darker,woodier colour,if that helps

Quote from: jonny211 on December 15, 2011, 20:55:13
Inamongst the triffid farm that I call my allotment I have some summer fruiting raspebrries, they were planted in spring and bore fruit this year. I'm very confused whether to trim the oldest bits down to the ground or not, or leave these to try and fruit next year.

What would people recommend and at what age do the oldest runners (correct term?) stop producing fruit?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

Hi Jon - your summer fruiting should not have fruited this year. They fruit on last years growth.. If you planted in spring and had fruit this year they may be Autumn fruiting in which case they fruit n this years canes and you cut them down dec - feb 'ish...

For me the name summer/autumn fruiting becomes very confusing,  My autumn ones started in July and fruited all through the summer.  And some of my summer ones decided to fruit in the Autumn.   

so what do you do with dual fruiting varieties

Quote from: plainleaf on January 06, 2012, 20:06:06
so what do you do with dual fruiting varieties

Just eat them when ever they grow and cut down afterwards!! ;D

I will not cut them down after fruiting since this will prevent the early fruiting this spring.  Also they send up shoots very late so they will not have any leaves to feed the roots.

Actually the other difference between them is that many of my Autumn ones already have green shoots appreating above the soil.