Pruning Raspberry Canes

[harveymt]

My mum has a large number of raspberry canes. The area she has them growing was originally a veg plot but she let it overgrow badly. I have it cleared this year but a lot of the raspberry canes were growing at odd angles dependant on how many weeds were growing on top of them. They are very long and tall canes as she has not cut any back for years.

Am I right in thinking that this year's growth should all be cut back to the ground to allow new green growth to shoot up next year? All the canes at the moment are the brown hard canes about 2m tall with some green growth at the top.

Cheers

[zazen999]

I cut back canes that have fruited. If they haven't, then leave them.

[chris]

I do what zaz does now too - works for both types

[Two_Sheds]

I cut all mine down to the ground in Feb, although I did consider doing it in Sept because I was so fed up of picking raspberries. The freezer's still full of 'em

[zazen999]

I cut all mine down to the ground in Feb, although I did consider doing it in Sept because I was so fed up of picking raspberries. The freezer's still full of 'em

But yours are all autumn fruiting ones; whereas we don't know about the OP's

My freezer is also still full; I am going to use them for festive desserts this year. Nom.

[harveymt]

I think they are a mixture of types. We get raspberries from spring rigth through till now. There's a couple of raspberries left on them but I've left them for any birds.

I think I'm safe enough in cutting them back now to ground level? After I cut them will I spread a good bit of compost over the ground?

[VirginVegGrower]

I cut Autumn fruiting canes down to the ground about now. Summer fruiting canes just need the old canes (those that bore fruit already) cutting to ground level, tie in or leave any new green canes. You can prune by a third of height to tidy them up. I normally do this last step in Spring when I weed around them and mulch after giving them a feed.

[Two_Sheds]

I cut Autumn fruiting canes down to the ground about now.

I don't, because they're full of hibernating ladybirds, and I needs them for the aphids

[VirginVegGrower]

I don't, because they're full of hibernating ladybirds, and I needs them for the aphids

They have plenty of other hidey holes on the allotment and I want good raspberry yield, so they are gone.

[Two_Sheds]

^ cutting now or in Feb doesn't affect yield either way ... does it? The new fruiting canes don't come up until spring