Autumn Bliss V. Joan J

[BroadRipple]

Hello grapes - can I have your votes please for your favourite autumn raspberry? with growing notes where applicable? B/c my weedy (not literally) poundland ones seem to be beyond hope and it's time I faced facts and bought a couple of proper canes...BR

[donnakebab]

I have Autumn Bliss. I've had them for years and they crop very well, don't need support but don't keep well so need to be used straight away of frozen.

[veggiechicken]

I've had Autumn Bliss and the yellow Autumn raspberry (Fallgold? or whatever its called) for years. Both run wild in the "fruit garden". Don't remember Joan J being an option when I bought these. I wouldn't bother with yellow rasps as I find them sweet but tasteless - like licking a sugarspoon. I love the autumn raspberries though and would prefer to grow those to summer ones - if I had to choose between them - as there is always lots of soft fruit around in summer but not so much in the autumn. Not really an answer to your question though, just the ramblings of a raspberry lover!

[gan heather]

Can I throw another option out there? Polka. I bought some canes last year and had a few berries off of them and they were great. Large, tasty, and FIRM. I have a raspberry patch on my lottie that I inherited (so I don't know which autumn raspberries they are) and they're tasty, but literally fall apart as soon as I pick them, whereas Polka didn't do that.

[northepaul]

I bought some polka from a reputable buyer but they didnt survive very well and produced hardly any fruit. I replaced them this year, with autumn bliss from my neighbour's allotment (he gave them to me!) and have to say, although they were only babies, they do produce a good fruit.
I also have summer ones, which I have found much more prolific (tulameen) and tasty -
Just to give you all the options!

[Thelma Sanders]

Joan J here...just love em.
Chop em down to the ground every winter, throw some compost/manure on em......and leave them to it! and then pick handfuls everyday from late July. No probs

[donnakebab]

Joan J here...just love em.
Chop em down to the ground every winter, throw some compost/manure on em......and leave them to it! and then pick handfuls everyday from late July. No probs

That's what I do with my Autumn Bliss. Very easy to look after especially as no support required. It might be my local conditions that make them not store very well but if you're into jam or ice cream then you're on to a winner. Nothing better than wandering up the garden on a lovely summer morning to throw some fresh raspberries on to your cereal.

[BroadRipple]

so my fellow raspberry-lovers, it sounds as if I need to get ALL OF THEM. EEK. and given that space/£ means I can only manage about one cane of each, this cd be a challenge.
p.s. Veggie I love your posts but your avatar is frightening me

[veggiechicken]

He is the Dog of Inner Peace - don't be afraid!

[BroadRipple]

I don't have a dog of inner peace. I have a guinea pig of inner panic. will that do?

[veggiechicken]

I've been trying to send you the message that goes with the Dog but couldn't send the images as a PM. If you'd like to see the rest, PM me your email address. I promise not to sell it on!!!

[realfood]

A recent independent report gave the following information :-
Suggested varieties of Autumn fruiting Raspberries.

Joan J. This variety produces a big crop of large berries over a long period, often till November when the frosts will stop the fruiting. This variety came top in independent taste tests for Autumn raspberries. Spine free canes.

Autumn Treasure. Produced the highest yield of Autumn raspberries in tests, using the double cropping method. Resistant to mould, a problem in wet and damp weather. Spine free canes.

Polka. Came second in independent taste tests. Produced a smaller crop with some mould in damp weather. Small spines on canes.

Autumn Bliss. The traditional standard variety produces a good crop of medium sized berries over a long period, often till November when the frosts will stop the fruiting. Susceptible to mould in damp and wet weather. Canes have spines.

[BroadRipple]

thanks Realfood that's v helpful. What were those results from?
Veggie, very strange...will PM you and see if that works...
and anyone have any tips re: where to get a small cheapish quantity of canes - 3 rather than 5/10?

[veggiechicken]

Come to my garden and dig them up - they're everywhere. They've spread so much that they're all mixed up, summer, autumn, yellow! Can't tell what they are until they're fruiting. Even the ones I threw in the heap to be burnt have rooted! Good job I lurve them! A sunny morning, bowl in hand, wandering through the raspberry canes picking enough for my breakfast, dogs at my heels, birds a twittering, the gentle breeze wafting the scent of the summer blossom through the dappled shadows of the apple trees: or if its wet, dive into the freezer!

[realfood]

Gardening which did the trial.