How many...

[robD]

... raspberry canes do I need to provide fruit for a family of 4? I'd like fruit for as long as possible as well so would like summer and autumn varieties - any suggestions? I know I'm looking at a couple of years or so for decent yields but that's OK and I'd prefer raspberries that taste better over just heavy croppers.

Also there seems to be quite a wide difference in prices in the catalogues, is it a case of you pay for what you get? Any advice greatfully received,

Rob

[nick the grief]

Hi Rob Welcome to the vine.

Thats a difficult question. Are you growing at home ofr on a lottie? If it's a lotty & the row is about 20ft wide I would say 2 rows, a row of earlies/mids & a row of Mids/lAutumns if you could split the the rows so it was about 3/4's earlies & Autumn fruiting that would be about right as the Mids overlap a bit anyway so you don't need so many of them.

As to price, some of the fruit suppliers are just more expensive & some are probably better quality plants but you'll have to decided what you want to pay & then get the best for your money.

Also grow them on a double row system & you'll get more fruit. This involve a post at either end of the row with 2 horizontal bars one at around 30" & onne at around 5ft with wire between them. top bar about 30 " bottom one about 18" then the canes are tied to this in the form of a 'V' lets light & air in & also allows you to have twice as many canes compare with the singl row of wires.

[burnie]

Rob, I bought some supermarket clearouts,10 plants for 75 pence each.2nd year and we've had loads of tasty fresh fruit.
I will be adding "better" named brands though as they are my favourite fruits.
I made the mistake of planting against a wind break which means I can't access both sides to pick easily.
I feed with blood fish and bone at the start of the growth and again after pruning out the old fruiting wood from this season.

[robD]

Thanks for the replies, really helpful. Now of course I just need to clear some space and prepare the ground...

[valmarg]

Raspberries

robD, for the autumn fruiting raspberries, I would recommend Joan J. I bought some at the beginning of the year. They started fruiting in mid-July, and according to the catalogue should continue until mid-October. The fruits are large and very good flavoured.

valmarg