[Novice]

I've got a good amount of raspberry "sticks" on my plot ( the various Ron's assure me they fruit well in season )
I cleared all the grass and weeds from in between them this weekend, and mulched well with a layer of horse muck....
What else should I be doing to ensure success ?
I mean in relation to pruning, supporting etc etc.

[Rural Living]

Hi I am no expert, but seem to get a reasonable crop each year, perhaps there is an expert about. However the most important thing I have found is to mulch as you have done, I also mulch with grass cuttings in May to retain moisture, and keep the weeds down. Make sure they are kept well watered when the fruit is swelling. If they are summer fruiting varieties, I prune now removing the top 6" from the strongest canes, and 3" from the smaller ones. This encourages better fruiting. After fruiting I cut the canes to just above soil level. I then keep the best of the unfruited canes.
I support the canes with two posts and wires strung across, I then tie the canes to these wires. If they are an autumn variety the system of care differs, but from my experience the summer fruiting varieties are more popular. Hope this helps John B

[olde9856]

If they are autumn fruiting varieties it is simply a case of cutting them to the ground after fruiting. They dont really need any support and have few diseases

[Novice]

Thanks for the advice folks....I should have mentioned that they are Summer fruiting varieties.
Sorry, I'm not sure what you meant by
". I then keep the best of the unfruited canes. "
Does this mean that I dig up the ones which have fruited and develop the non-fruiting canes ?
Cheers

[olde9856]

On summer fruiting varieties cut down the canes which have fruited after fruiting and tie in the new growths which have not fruited. They will become next years fruiting canes. Raspberries fruit on year old wood, so this regime goes on year after year.

[oggy]

Hi All,

I planted 10 rasberry canes last Nov. These came from a nursery and have been cut to about 12 ins just above a bud.........no sign of any growth yet.........is it still to early ?

Oggy

[John]

Hi All,

I planted 10 rasberry canes last Nov. These came from a nursery and have been cut to about 12 ins just above a bud.........no sign of any growth yet.........is it still to early ?

Oggy

Reckon a few weeks yet. It's snowing and around freezing so any sensible plant is waiting a bit