Pruning Raspberry Canes

[alanbalan]

I planted some autumn fruiting raspberry canes last autumn. They have no growth and are about a foot high. Do I cut these down to ground level now, or leave them like this for this year and allow them to grow?

I know autumn fruiting canes get cut down now, but am unsure with these as they are newly planted.

Thanks

[FB.]

With newly-planted things, I prefer not to prune until the winter after I've seen strong growth. If it takes two years to get strong growth, then they don't get pruned for two years!
The bits that you prune off are still living and contain nutrient and sugar reserves that the plant stored from last year. Newly-transplanted things are quite stressed, so it's best to let them keep all the strength they can muster (transplanted raspberry canes have a very low survival rate in my experience - maybe 1/3 canes survive? ).

But, normally, autumn-fruiters would be cut down completely during the winter.

[Terry46]

Autumn fruiting raspberries fruit on the current years growth. They are cut down to ground level now and will re-shoot from the roots during the next few weeks - may be a little later this year due to the unusually long cold spell . You should have a good crop from around mid July. Enjoy.

[Alison]

I too would leave them be this year and then cut back down next winter after they have fruited next autumn. Hope you get a decent crop.

[sarraceniac]

If they only went in last autumn I certainly wouldn't prune this year. I put some Polkas in in January 2009 which gave me a few fruits last summer. But they have not had a proper establishment and growth period yet so there is no point in pruning. It isn't true that you have to go through this weird cutting ritual every year. You don't have to and if the cane doesn't need it then why bother?

[Liza]

I would leave them for at least two years.

[HeyWayne]

I mistakenly planted my autumn and summer fruiting raspberries next to each other - I can't tell which is which now as they "shooted" all over the place.

I cut everything back - and have no way of knowing which plant is which so might just have to treat them all as summer fruiting.

When I try and work it out my head hurts - which to cut back and when, which plants will fruit on this years growth or last years, yada yada yada.

I thought raspberries were supposed to be easy...

[sarraceniac]

I thought raspberries were supposed to be easy...

They are. As long as you don't plant your summer fruiters too near your autumn fruiters. You may get them mixed.

[HeyWayne]

They are. As long as you don't plant your summer fruiters too near your autumn fruiters. You may get them mixed.

Now you tell me!!

[FionaH]

Why oh why do I read this great advice the day AFTER I pruned my Autumn rasps?

[scarey55]

Why oh why do I read this great advice the day AFTER I pruned my Autumn rasps?

But ... that's alright - erm... isn't it

[HeyWayne]

Why oh why do I read this great advice the day AFTER I pruned my Autumn rasps?

At least you know they are Autumn ones!

[WillyNelson]

I came on today to ask exactly this question. Thanks all.

[Alison]

I mistakenly planted my autumn and summer fruiting raspberries next to each other - I can't tell which is which now as they "shooted" all over the place.

I cut everything back - and have no way of knowing which plant is which so might just have to treat them all as summer fruiting.

You just cut back the stems which have already fruited, they're quite obvious. Ones which haven't fruited are either early ones from this years growth (unlikely so far!) or the summer ones which will fruit in June.

[HeyWayne]

You just cut back the stems which have already fruited, they're quite obvious. Ones which haven't fruited are either early ones from this years growth (unlikely so far!) or the summer ones which will fruit in June.

Wasn't obvious enough for me then clearly. Mine was all a big mass of leaves and stems (looked a bit "brambly2) - nothing like the dude next door's neat and tidy bushes.