autumn raspberries a bit early?

[salilah]

I planted some raspberry canes in the early spring (late winter) - Joan J and Autumn Gold I think - both are supposed to be autumn fruiting. However, I now have a fair number of small fruitlets - isn't this a bit early?
I plan to net this weekend anyway just in case - just wanted to check what to expect
Also - my books say you don't need to stake / tie autumn raspberries - but should I tie a string round like broad beans?
Also (sorry) I've a couple gooseberry plants in the same bed - one is still pretty small, the other is throwing long "canes" with no sign of fruit - should I ignore or worry?

Thanks!!
S

[rustylady]

I planted some raspberry canes in the early spring (late winter) - Joan J and Autumn Gold I think - both are supposed to be autumn fruiting. However, I now have a fair number of small fruitlets - isn't this a bit early?
Also - my books say you don't need to stake / tie autumn raspberries - but should I tie a string round

It is a bit early, but everything is out of sync this year because of the weather. If the canes seem a bit tall you can rig up a support if you want to.

[rustylady]

I've a couple gooseberry plants in the same bed - one is still pretty small, the other is throwing long "canes" with no sign of fruit - should I ignore or worry

I'm guessing your gooseberry bushes are fairly young. If so it is quite normal for them not to be fruiting. The "canes" are probably new shoots which will bear fruit next year hopefully.

[rana]

It is normal for some varieties of autumn raspberries to start producing a little fruit at this time of year. They will continue to fruit and gather pace right through until late autumn. If the plants are bending or getting whippy I would definitely put some support stakes in.

[WrexTheDragon]

I get two crops from my autumn raspberries. The first one is usally small and the second one is the main crop.

It depends on how you cut the canes in the winter.

[Alison]

If you don't cut back your autumn fruiting canes at the end of winter you get fruit on the old canes and then on the new ones in the autumn. The crops are less than if you had pruned them all to ground level but it can be handy. I used to do this on purpose before I had the space for both types.