Raspberry disease?

[Paul J]

Hi. My first post here, and hoping for some wisdom as I’m upset about my raspberries.
Built a new bed, with new compost and soil (I’ve heard about disease) and planted 10 new plants - Polka and Jean J - to get some fruit this year. I’ve also fed twice with a general fruit fertiliser.
Most of them are growing well, but some of them are dying back!
Photo below. Any advice on what I can do gratefully received. Thank you.
Paul

[ameno]

I get that sometimes. It's either cane blight or cane spot (I can never remember which). Either way, it's a fungal disease which creates legions on the bark, and if those legions circle the stem entirely then the cane will die. It won't kill the plant entirely, as it doesn't affect the roots.

There's not a huge amount you can do about it short of cutting out and binning any infected stems as close to the ground as possible, so as to limit its spread. Otherwise, just keep the plants fed and mulched, and water in dry spells, to keep the plants as strong as possible. Although it does limit the crop somewhat due to some of the canes dying prematurely, I find it doesn't prevent you from still getting a decent crop.

[Paul J]

Hi Ameno
Thanks so much for this - very helpful. I have had similar in a previous plot and over 3 years it steadily wiped out all the plants! So I’m nervous I’ll lose them all again.

I’ve put an automatic watering system in, so had wondered if it was root rot, but fungal makes more sense. Is it worth spraying with an anti-fungus?
On your advice I’ll cut back to limit spread and hopefully save some plants to fruit this year.
Thanks again!
P

[Andraste]

Hi Paul J

I've no wisdom & good advice already from ameno anyway I'm sure but wanted to say 'hello', 'welcome' and 'good luck'

[Paul J]

Hi Andraste
Thank you!