[chrissie B]

ive almost picked all my raspberries ans im wondering what do i do with the canes now , should i cut them back or leave them , there are a few new ones sprouting up all over the place , they have all been heaaped in at one end of the garden , advice please .
chrissie b

[m1ckz]

cut the wood that has fruited out to leave the new groath for next year,you can thin out as you need to,also replant any new wood u need  gl

[chrissie B]

thanks for that it sounds a bit scary lol
chrissie b

[sunshineband]

Just do it carefully,cutting the old ones out at ground level and leaving any new (greener looking) ones. 

and they are prickly 

[chrissie B]

i have gloves but you carnt grip things as good .
what happens if the old wood gets left in ?
do you know the best time to pland the gooseberry i would like some for next year and will i need full sun as i have a strech of fence i could use
thanks for the help
chrissie b

[Trillium]

Although gloves don't give as good a grip, they also prevent loads of sharp cane slivers. I bought quality, fitted leather workgloves for working with raspberries and roses and they were worth every penny.

No big deal if you leave the wood. I find they die off by the end of the season anyway, which is when I usually take my barrow and pull out the dead canes. Others prefer to take them out soon as cropping is done to better train young shoots in place on lines (if you have them).

If your gooseberries are in pots, they can be planted anytime. Prepare the hole well, fill with water, let it soak away, then plant.

If you have young plants you're moving, best to wait until they're dormant, either late fall or very early spring, and take a good ball of soil with the plant for minimum root disturbance.

As for placement of gooseberries, I find they grow anywhere. Mine grow in the shade of the tall red currants, but they might appreciate more sun.

[sunshineband]

Agreeing with Trillium here Chrissie --- buy some gloves that fit
 
I got three pairs of tough well fitting ones in a multipack for £3.99 at our local garden centre (Wyevale but others have them too) and they are very well fitting, and go in the wash well.

Not total protection but better than nothing and I tackle thistles in mine 

The leather ones would be better of course, but might take a while to track down

[chrissie B]

thanks for the great help
chrissie b

[Trillium]

Forgot to mention that the leather workgloves are fab for pulling thistles as well. The right kind are puncture proof, and I have no shortage of thistles growing around here.

[Lardman]

I don't get on well with gardening gloves either. 

I use "superior rigger gloves" (These Gloves) They take a bit of breaking in and I use 2 -3 pairs a season, but it saves having to send hours pulling thorns out of your hands