Autumn or summer fruiting raspberries?

[GardenGrower]

Hi all, I've finally got my allotment after eight years on the waiting list! There are a lot of raspberry canes there (pictured) How can I tell if they are autumn or summer friuiting at this time of year and what should I be doing with them? Thank you!

[ameno]

If those out-of-focus brown blobs at the tip of one of the stems in the second photo are the remains of last year's fruit, then those are autumn raspberries.

Generally speaking, though, it's difficult to tell this time of year. Leftover autumn raspberry stems will often have the remains of last year's fruit at the tips, plus the top few inches of stem are often dead. Whereas summer raspberries will have no signs of fruit and should be sprouting leaves all the way up. But these methods are not entirely reliable.
Later in the summer is the easiest time to tell, as autumn raspberries will be producing fruit on the stems grown this year, whereas summer raspberry stems grown this year will have only leaves.

For now, I would just weed around them as best you can, feed them, and cut out any dead stems. Don't do any further pruning for now.

[GardenGrower]

Thank you so much for your helpful reply! From what you've said, I think they are autumn fruiting. Thanks for the advice - I'm a newbie!

[Nicos]

Mine are totally mixed. There was a system a few years ago but the rows have moved having thrown up new stems. They are a total mixture now.
I do as ameno suggests and just leave them until I know for sure.

[GardenGrower]

Thank you!

[peanut]

With Autumn fruiting raspberries, at this time of year they will have the old fruited dead looking bit at the top of the cane and fresh leaves developing lower down the length of the cane.
If you cut off the dead/fruited part at the top and leave the rest, if they are autumn fruiting they will fruit again in early summer on that old cane, whilst sending up new canes from the base for this years autumn fruit.
Once you've picked your early summer crop, then you cut down that cane, leaving the new one in place.
I always double crop my autumn fruiting raspberries like this

[Andraste]

Hi GardenGrower

I've no wisdom to add to the good advice already received but wanted to say 'welcome' and 'congrats on your new allotment'

[GardenGrower]

Thank you peanut that is incredibly helpful and I'm not pretty sure they are autumn fruiting. Great tip on double cropping!

[GardenGrower]

And thanks for the welcome Andraste 😊😊

[peanut]

Thank you peanut that is incredibly helpful and I'm not pretty sure they are autumn fruiting. Great tip on double cropping!

You're very welcome GardenGrower. Some, not all varieties, of my Autumn fruiting rasps already have flower buds. Hope you get a great bonus summer crop!