Raspberry woes

[Woolly One]

Hi all, please be gentle - first post on this forum.

Hopefully just a quick question re raspberries. Last year we said that we would thin out our canes, as there were all bunched together in a relativly small area. Unfortunately, due to external circumstances we never got around to it.

Now, as a result, this year we have got a mass of canes that have 'gone native' and therefore will have a very poor harvest. My good lady wants me to prune the canes back now, with a view to planting them out properly as we intended, ready for next year.

Is this a good idea at this time, or shall I just leave them until the proper time.

Thanks all - Woolly

[Tam]

You should annually cut the old canes (the ones that have fruited) to ground level and tie in the new canes to whatever support you have provided. The old canes are brown and the new canes are a lush green. At the same time I should dig up any that are not growing where you want them to grow, otherwise you will end up with an unmanageable forest.

[rustylady]

Give them a chance to fruit, and as Tam says, cut out the old brown canes when they have finished fruiting. Come September get a good spade and dig out enough to leave the others room to develop properly. The thinnings can be transplanted if you want/need more canes.

[Pumpkin Becki]

If you want to cut them back now, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Follow Tam's advice for the canes you want to leave in-situ, and any that you plan to move could be cut back to approx 6" tall so you don't have to wrestle with them!

And by the way - welcome to the Vine, glad to have you along!!

[Woolly One]

If you want to cut them back now, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Follow Tam's advice for the canes you want to leave in-situ, and any that you plan to move could be cut back to approx 6" tall so you don't have to wrestle with them!

That's what I hoped would be the answer - Cheers all