[Ropster]

Hi i have just come back from the lottie after sticking in a row of first early spuds and some Rasbery canes
I thought i would save my self some weeding and have planted the rasps through a layer of thin weed matting with cardboard under it
now Im thinking it was a mistake as i realise rasps put out runners for the new canes and they may not be able to get out

any one got any advice?

[Nikkithefoot]

I would think you will be ok for most of this year, depending on whether they are early, mid, or late season. Based on my own experience the late season rasps are the most adventerous when it comes to putting out runners, and their first lot wont grow until next year unless you are really (un)lucky. The early and mid season will very likely only put up shoots next to the parent cane this year.

End of this season or early next I would get rid of the weed matting (the cardboard should have rotted) and putdown a good mulch of well rotted compos, and cover it with chipped or composted bark to keep the weeds at bay. I have done it this way for the past few years and my rasps are doing very nicely.

Nikki

[Ropster]

Thanks

ill leave it as is for the moment then

[Trillium]

I agree with Nikki's suggestions, and should you see any weeds pop through regardless, get them out quick before their roots get too large. By staying on top of weeds in the raspberry patch, you save a lot of headache later.

[gobs]

I personally would lose the stuff sooner than that, we don't know your variety, but on top of seasonal difference, there is also individual vigour. Plants start to throw suckers out towards the end of fruiting and after, I would get rid off the thing before that time.

[cawdor2001]

I too have weed matting around mine planted this year so glad of that advice as i was wondering when to remove.  

What do you guys (and gals) do for potatoes, do you use matting or just hand weed until spud canopy has covered over as difficult to hoe ridges or they collapse

Cawdor

[gobs]

Not a many weed grows under pots once they get growing, Cawdor, dont worry about that one.

If it's full of weeds, that is past worrying about.  

Just let them pots grow and earth up once a week, yo should not have much weeds left, I'd say.