Raspberry canes, Emergency question!

[CarolineW]

Hi, I got a shock yesterday when my raspberry canes that I'd ordered arrived. I expected them to come in Spring - obviously I got that wrong!

This means that the place where I had intended to put them isn't ready yet. The only other place I can put them is at the back of our raised bed border, against the fence.

Is there a particular reason why they are tied into wires? Is there any reason why I couldn't tie them into pea netting (which is already attached to the fence posts)? Also, can I put them against the fence, or will it mean that I can't harvest half the berries?

I'm in a bit of a flap now, as I want to plant them before they get spoiled. And I wasn't ready yet! Any advice would be deeply appreciated!

Thanks
Caroline

[shirlthegirl43]

I am just a beginner at raspberry growing but will try to help.

You should be okay sticking your sticks in a bucket of multi-purpose compost for now then you can plant them out when you are ready.

The need to be tied onto wires as they blow around quite a bit and would tear your netting to shreds. My rasps are growing beside a plank fence and are tied to that, I didn't have any trouble harvesting them last summer.

I am sure someone will come along shortly and give you better advice.

[valmarg]

What variety/ies are they?

valmarg

[CarolineW]

Varieties

What variety/ies are they?

valmarg

They are Glen Moy, Glen Ample and Joan J

[Grandpadragon]

Hi Caroline,

1 DONT Panic ! You have plenty of time.
2 Put them in containers like fish boxes or plastic storage boxes as long as they are at least 6" deep and cover the roots with compost as Shirl says.
They are dormant now and will be until about March so you have till then to prepare the bed you want to put them in. Raspberries are shallow rooted and hate root disturbance so make sure you get out all perrenial weeds, dig in plenty of manure/compost and when you plant use the same depth or slightly deeper than the nursery did. You will need a good support system for Moy and Ample if you use "search " you will find threads giving details of this. If the
canes of Ample and Moy are long keep them as they will fruit in 2008 if they are short they will send up new cans but these will not fruit till 2009. With june J she will throw up canes and will fruit late (Sept) 2008.

[CarolineW]

Phew! Panic over Thanks everyone, especially Grandpa Dragon. My panic is now over, and I'll be putting them in a makeshift container tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I'll get some supports built and a bed prepared for the canes.

I noticed on a thread about blackberries that someone was planning to train them as an arch between 2 beds. Would that work with raspberries too, with one planted each side? Or would that just be trying to fly before I can even walk

Caroline

[kethry]

hi guys - I've got a similar problem to the OP.. bought raspberry canes (Glen Ample and Malling Leo), 8 of one and 4 of the other, and the canes are already showing signs of growth. Bed where i want them to go a) isn't ready and b) we're still getting frosts, and instructions say not to plant out when its frosty. I've not got a cold shed i can put them in or anything like that: can i put them in a bucket of compost for now, outside, covered with horticultural fleece to protect them or am i best just leaving them in their packaging inside? They're in a dark (coolish) cupboard at the moment. Oh, and they came from woolworths.

Any advice appreciated!

thanks!

keth
xx

[smallblueplanet]

Hi Caroline, don't know 'bout the other 2 but Joan J are autumn fruiting and don't need support (or as much). Ours are dormant/just breaking their dormancy now. When we received ours unexpectedly (aren't they always!) we just heeled them in to a bit of spare bed. They stayed there for a while and then were planted out later.

Shirley gave a good description of heeling in recently - '(I think that basically means stick your spade in the ground [at a 45 degree angle] and open up a 'flap' bung the [tree] roots in and firm the earth back with your heel)'

[deadwood]

Caroline, wrote this elsewhere but Joan J is an autumn raspberry and is handled differently to the other two which are summer fruiting raspberrys.

Suggest that you keep Joan J a bit separate to the others so you can distinguish.

Keeping them in a bucket of compost should be fine but they will start to sprout a little.