[Hamani]

Hey guys,

What do you think is the best feeding regime for raspberries?

I have a row of well established autumn raspberries and this year in spring I cut them back, gave them a thick layer of fresh cut grass (for nitrogen) and a good mulch of compost. Then once they started to flower I have them a good dose of potash.

They fruited well but I'm just wondering if there's a better way to do it.

I think the grass under the compost is really important to get them off to a good start, they do after all have a LOT of growing to do each year. I might try adding some chicken manure pellets this year for a better early nitrogen fix.

Once they start flowering do you think a large dose of potash or regular comfrey (or tomato) fertaliser is best? Possibly a mixture of both? I don't want to over fertalise though ...

Thoughts and oppinions?

- Gary.

[pete1977]

regular (daily) picking wonders for a bigger harvest. 

early in the season they get a mulch of rotted manure or compost

I give a liquid feed of comfrey tea weekly from late flowing time to fruiting pretty much the same regime as toms.

Oh and I burn the all the old canes and scatter the ashes around their roots of the new canes. 

but if what your doing is working why change? If it ain't broke...

[Hamani]

but if what your doing is working why change? If it ain't broke...

Its human nature to challange and progress =]

Its interesting how you do both the potash and also the weekly feed. If I decide to try that this year I'm going to need more comfrey to cover the flower boarder, spuds, toms and now the raspberries too!

[Trillium]

I also do a manure mulch and I also have a woodburner from which I save ashes that will be sprinkled along the rows in spring.

Most of all, raspberries need lots of water to fruit well.