[simpson-allen]

I know my season in Essex/London borders is about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule this year due to the weather, but after a promising start for the first couple of weeks, the fruit are now really small. This happens every year but usually at the end of September. My summer fruiting ones in the raised bed next door produce large fruit throughout their season. I thought it might be that they needed more watering so this year I gave them a regular supply so that definitely isn't the cause. I know this sounds silly but I don't feed them-do they need it? But I don't feed the summer ones either yet they're fine. Any ideas gang?

[New shoot]

That is what mine have done as well. I have loads, but smaller than normal.

I don’t feed mine, but they get a generous mulch every winter, so I think it is more weather related than anything.

[jaydig]

I grow JoanJ, and the fruits are usually very large, but not this year.  Sparser, smaller fruit seems to be the order of the day, and like Snowy, I would think that the extremes of heat and cold have a lot to do with it.

[mumofstig]

I grow JoanJ, and the fruits are usually very large, but not this year.  Sparser, smaller fruit seems to be the order of the day, and like Snowy, I would think that the extremes of heat and cold have a lot to do with it.

Same here..

[jaydig]

I grow JoanJ, and the fruits are usually very large, but not this year.  Sparser, smaller fruit seems to be the order of the day, and like Snowy, I would think that the extremes of heat and cold have a lot to do with it.

Apologies - I meant to say "like New Shoot" - I can only put it down to old age!!! This also probably accounts for my finding all kinds of strange things in the fridge, which seems to be my default hiding place when the mind wanders.

[Subversive_plot]

I'm curious as to what polka fruit is?

Trying to look it up, I see references to types of raspberries and types of strawberries.

[mumofstig]

I'm curious as to what polka fruit is?

An Autumn-fruiting raspberry.

[Subversive_plot]

Thank you MoS!
There is a late summer/early autumn fruiting raspberry that grows in the northernmost US states and Canada, my guess is they may be somewhat similar?  They are called salmonberries (I think due to color).

I live about 1,000 miles too far to the south to grow them. Way too hot.