[rhysdad]

I planted a row of autumn Bliss raspberries in November last year, leaving the canes 12" above the ground. Reading up on raspberry care it says i should have cut old canes down to ground level in February to promote new spring growth but, as these weren't established plants, i didn't bother. Is that advisable or should i have cut them down? There are new shoots emerging at the base of the canes so they must be doing something. Also, mulching. I was going to spread a layer of well rotted horse poop over them It's not very strawy though) and wondered if that's okay to use? Will an application of FBB around the canes also be beneficial? Thanks, RD

[JayG]

If each plant had just a single 12" cane I'd just leave them as they are; if they had several I'd cut them down or the small summer crop you will get from them will detract from the autumn crop proper (poor things can only do so much in their first year!)

Your mulching/fertiliser plan sounds just fine to me (put the FBB down first.) 

[mumofstig]

as you haven't cut them down they will give you a small crop in summer on growth on the old canes, you'll probably get a small crop on new growth from the bottom in autumn.
The cutting back just makes them all grow and flower/fruit at the same time on the new wood.

I don't do the manure/mulch thingy so I'm not much help there..........I just dose them with BF&B

much the same as Jay then 

[Kristen]

I followed the advice in RHS "Growing Fruit" when I planted mine:

Plant during dormant season, cut back to 12" above a bud.

In the Spring once new "suckers" have appeared cut the original down to ground level.  This will help establish the plant but means forgoing a crop in the first year (having said that you may get an Autumn crop on the new suckers)

[stompy]

Surely if they're Autum Bliss an autum fruiting variety they will give you a crop this year.
Autum varieties fruit on the current years growth, then when they have died back you cut them back to the ground in January or february.

[Paul Plots]

There isn't (I'm sure) anyone who can get in more of a muddle or cause more of a muddle with raspberries than me.

I've oiked all of mine out and plonked them all back in again in two straight rows as they were all over the place. I have lots of different varieties all mixed up together some autumn and some summer fruiting.

Tried to follow advice on the site as well as from reading up on raspberries and I'm pretty sure I've made a complete mess of pruning.

I think the only way I'm going to learn how to prune the things is from my mistakes... so loads of learning coming up for me this season. 

[Kristen]

Here's some pruning advice then

Cut a stalk down to the ground when it has finished carrying fruit

Leave any stalk that has not yet fruited.

That will, in practice, be 50% of your Summer fruiting stalks, and 100% of your Autumn ones

Aim to prune them whilst you can still see the little core of the fruit - if you leave it too late into the Winter you might not be able to work out which-have and which-have-not fruited.

[Paul Plots]

Here's some pruning advice then

Cut a stalk down to the ground when it has finished carrying fruit

Leave any stalk that has not yet fruited.

That will, in practice, be 50% of your Summer fruiting stalks, and 100% of your Autumn ones

Aim to prune them whilst you can still see the little core of the fruit - if you leave it too late into the Winter you might not be able to work out which-have and which-have-not fruited.

It's so simple when you know how  Thanks.

Several people on here have given me good advice so all I have to do now is keep my fingers crossed that they actually make fruit this year and then have the secateurs nearby afterwards.