[girlfromthesouth]

Hi all,

My mother has been having problems with her raspberries and I wondered if anyone knows what's wrong and whether they will still be ok to eat?
Some leaves have gone a dark brown colour, though the canes and rasps seem fine. They did have a lot of greenfly this year so were sprayed several times with washing liquid and water as usual. The weather has been dry and windy so could this have been the cause?

I've attatched a few pics so you can see what I mean.

Thanks,
Lauren

[Trillium]

I've checked many sources and your problem doesn't fall into the usual disease category.

So, my best guess is that your problem is due in part to the residual soap spray drying on the leaves and burning small spots, as well as, the plants being too dry. The way some of the leaves have browned and curled upward indicates it's too dry for them. At fruiting time, raspberries need a lot of water to put out a decent crop.

So water well from below, never above and regularly until the cropping is finished.

[girlfromthesouth]

Thanks so much for your reply. The fruit actually does look fine so suspect you're right. Apparently they have been watered from above a few times as well so probably hasn't helped. What do you think about giving them tomato food watered in at the base?

Lauren

[Trillium]

A feeding wouldn't hurt as raspberries can be hungry feeders.