raspberries......

[vicki]

if I want to do raspberries/ strawberries on my new allotment, when will I need to get them planted - is it something I should be doing now ready for next summer, or do I wait til the spring/summer to get them planted?

THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN!

[GeordieVik]

Hi Vicki, I'm pretty new to all this too (got my lottie at the end of August) but from all the reading & planning I've done, raspberries need to be planted in the next couple of months.

I ordered mine from http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/acatal...spberries.html
they do what sounds like a good collection "All Seasons Raspberry Collection"
Six canes each of Glen Moy, Tulameen and Joan J (18 canes in total) for £21.95, inc. delivery (I was on the verge of ordering a 9 canes all season pack from Thompson & Morgan which was going to cost £19, glad i found DT Browns!)

The autumn rasps like Joan J should fruit next year, as they fruit on new canes which will grow over spring. Looking forward to taking baskets up to the lottie to fill with them!

The Fruit Expert by Dr Hessayon is worth getting, as it tells you how to put the supports up for the canes, and ground prep / planting info. BBC Gardening website also has a 'how to plant rasps' section.

That's about as much as I can tell you - expecting my canes next month.

Strawbs should apparently go in around now too - gives them a chance to settle into fairly warm soil before winter sets in - meaning there's more chance we'll get fruit next year (planting in spring might mean fewer fruit until following year, I think.)

Good luck!

Vik

[martini]

Hi Vicki - this is the site that Vik just mentioned
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basic...pberries.shtml

[valmarg]

GeordiVik, I can thoroughly recommend Joan J. I bought some from DTB at the beginning of this year. They started fruiting mid-July, and are still fruiting. They are large raspberries, and the taste is wonderful. We've had quite a lot of fruit, considering it is the first year's fruiting.

valmarg

[GeordieVik]

oooh, that's nice to hear. Really looking forward to going fruit picking in my own lottie!

Vik