Raspberry summer or autum

[Chrissyteacup]

Hey everyone I aquired two raspberry canes in our garden when we bought the house and have no idea if the summer or autum canes how can I find out? Last year was our first summer in the house and we seemed to get raspberry’s on them around June time but also I got a couple in September off them both so now I’m confused!!

[4Shoes]

Have you cut them back yet?

Autumn rasps may still have dead flowers and fruit on the stalks (mine have) and they will all be green. Summer rasps will have dead canes for last season with new green canes for next on which they fruit.

If you are unsure, cut out all the dead canes and tidy row.

This year, Autumn canes will fruit at same time as summer rasps, but will also grow from the base and fruit on the new canes grown this year in the Autumn.

[Chrissyteacup]

Thanks 4 shoes I think there all green but will have a proper look at them tomorrow as neglected them after picking! Just suddenly thought about them and don’t want any ill effects!

[veggiechicken]

Don't worry about what they are, just cut down any dead wood and see what happens in spring.
Mine are muddled together (as you would expect), that's what I do
If its brown, cut it down!!

[Chrissyteacup]

that does surprise me vc thanks I’ll prune them back tomorrow!
Will probably add to them next year but planted some blackberrys and gooseberrys this year so new raspberrys can wait!

[veggiechicken]

It won't do any harm to leave the old wood on until you see new leaf buds forming. Then you know that cane is alive and deserves to live. The No-shows don't.

[Chrissyteacup]

Ohh well that’s even better a wait and see approach! Whilst we’re talking about them is the only difference between autum and summer ones the fruiting times and pruning?

[veggiechicken]

Probably
May be just mine, but Autumn ones seem to be taller.

[Snadger]

that does surprise me vc thanks I’ll prune them back tomorrow!
Will probably add to them next year but planted some blackberrys and gooseberrys this year so new raspberrys can wait!

Muddled is VC's middle name!

[littlemoney]

I have a few Glen Moy which is a summer raspberry but they also produce a small crop in September on the new canes grown in the current year.

[Kirk]

If you do mean 2 raspberry canes then pull them out, throw them and buy either Summer or Autumn ones as required and of which you know the variety.

2 canes is just not worth the effort in finding out as you can buy a bunch of 5/10 or however number you want to start with for around £1 a cane. Just doesn't seem worth the bother for 2 unknown canes.

[Chrissyteacup]

I’m a bit of a weirdo I don’t like killing healthy plants- I struggle if I’ve got more seedlings then space! So can’t do that! Like I said I’ll be adding to them anyway! Just wondered if there was a way to tell the difference!

[nickdub]

I'm generally fully on the side of not chucking any possibly useful plant out, but in this case I agree with Kirk - I'd definitely get rid of these unknowns, especially as you are planning to plant other raspberries near by.

The risk is that the plants left in will be a source of pests and diseases for your new ones and that more than off sets any possible reward to keeping them in my mind