[canwickplot]

When will prune your raspberries? Which ones and how much? My autumn bloomers looked hokey this year, they were all newish looking canes that were over six feet tall. They must have seeded themselves and sprouted anew. Has anybody else had this problem? Long canes with fruit that looks manky before it even ripens?

Cheers

[DD.]

You cut autumn ones down TOTALLY to within a couple of inches of the ground any time after fruiting and before they start shooting in the spring.

They spead, not by seeding, but by throwing up suckers from the parent plant. You do need to thin them out, ot they'll take over.

[Auntie Rain]

they fruit on this years new canes, so cut off the canes that fruited this year & tie-in those grown new this for fruit next year..

Agreed on the suckers.. 

[DD.]

No, Auntie Rain.

We are talking autumn fruiting raspberries. ALL the canes should be cut off, they will shoot in the spring and have fruit on the same year's cane.

[titch]

i have summer fruiting ones, i am about to ask a stupid question 

what do you mean by 'tie in' ?

and some of the canes i planted did nothing and look dead (they were all given to be my another plot holder)

in short how short should i prune them - what is tie in, and what to do with the canes that now look like sticks and didnt grow anything

thanks

[DD.]

Tie them up for support.

With summer ones you cut out the old woody ones that fruited - or should have fruited this year. Leave the new shoots to fruit next year.

[titch]

Thanks DD, i guessed thats what it meant but wasnt sure so thought i would ask.
Secatuers out today then

[tode]

I always cut the top foot or so off the raspberries when they've finished, and get quite a respectable crop in June/July.
I then cut them down completely and the new shoots that have started in the Spring give the main crop in September. 

[Sue32]

I planted new canes of summer fruiting rasp's this spring and they produced soem nice shoots - some of which have decided to fruit this month? 
Are they confused by teh weather or did the nursery muddle them up?  what do I do with them now - to prune or not to prune.  Anyone else got confused canes?

[JayG]

Are they confused by teh weather or did the nursery muddle them up?  what do I do with them now - to prune or not to prune.  Anyone else got confused canes?

I'm sure my canes are perfectly happy with their own sense of identity; it's me that's confused!     Mine were a gift from a friend who said they were a mixture of summer and autumn types, but didn't know which was which (great!).

Planted 10 of them 3 years ago, 7 died. Replaced the 7 from the same source a year later and all romped away.

As to pruning, those that are fruiting now will be cut down near to the ground after fruiting has finished. Those which haven't fruited or appear stronger than the others I tend to tidy up by shortening to 5' or so. This produces some summer fruit even on the autumn types and allows the summer ones to do their thing.

A bit hit and miss possibly, but I find the distinction between the two types a bit of a grey area. Others in the same situation may have better ideas.................
 

[jolly jen]

autumn raspberries cut almost to the ground when finished fruiting....mine are about 7 foot high and still fruting heavy at the mo.

i cut them down end oct last year i think.
 they spread all over the place ive even had them poping up in my raised beds,and i have black plastic with woodchip layed down as for pathes,so the ros do travel well/

[DD.]

ive even had them pooping up in my raised beds

Last thing you want is raspberries pooping in your beds!

[tode]

"Last thing you want is raspberries pooping in your beds!"

Just the opposite: be good for the strawberries