Bare root rasps - no life?!

[Ethansmumma]

I got 5 rasp bare root canes from RHS for mothers day, we planted them as soon as they arrived .. so in march and they still look like dead sticks .. no signs of life.. what should they be doing? how long before I should see something? what should I do?

[Two_Sheds]

Did you water them in well, and did you cut the dead sticks down to the ground?

[Ethansmumma]

They were watered in/manure etc. but I didn't cut down, should I do it now or would it be too late??

[Aberdeenplotter]

it won't have harmed them by not cutting down. Some people buy and plant long cane rasps. What you should get is new growth coming from the roots. With the recent spell of very wet weather, it's had the effect of chilling the soil and it won't really warm up until it dries out so they may just be slow. However, rasps are very prone to root root. Wet cold soil can = rot. I'd have an explore below the ground level

[Garden_Chris]

I've had the same thing happen to me. Planted 6 Autumn Bliss bare-root canes, two of them came up about a month back by the wind and rain literally broke them (they were only about 3cm tall), and just yesterday I noticed two more heads poking through the mulch.

I think it's probably been to cold and wet for them to start yet - although I've never grown them before, it's just a hunch. I suppose if the weather picks up we can expect them to get a move on

[DGoulston]

I brought the 3 pack from Wilkinson's, (one early/mid/late) and the Late one came through about 2 weeks ago, but nothing from the others. I did not chop the canes down either.

I have to say, when I planted them, the Late one did look more alive than the rest!

D.

[rinabean]

I was told to scratch a little bark off with my nail near the top of the cane. Green underneath, it's still alive, brown underneath, it's a stick. None of my berries are doing much yet, but the alive ones are starting to grow from the bottom and the dead few have shrivelled.

Some varieties, like one of the ones I got, specifically said on the label not to cut down to the ground. I don't know why some are like this and some aren't It doesn't seem to go along summer/autumn fruiting lines, either.

[Jason Cartwright]

I had same problem with some bare root strawberries i got from Wilkos.
I followed instructions on packet but nothing has happened.
Nothing was said about cutting them down or scratching the bark.
I chucked 2 out the 3 so i can reuse pots for something that will grow.
I've given up on the other.

J

[DGoulston]

I got the strawberries as well, gave up on them yesterday. nothing had happened at all with them.

D

I had same problem with some bare root strawberries i got from Wilkos.
I followed instructions on packet but nothing has happened.
Nothing was said about cutting them down or scratching the bark.
I chucked 2 out the 3 so i can reuse pots for something that will grow.
I've given up on the other.

J

[DGoulston]

did the scrape test, and the (mid) season one is green, so that might come alive, but the early is a twig lol..

Thanks for that info!!!!

[veggiechicken]

Don't rely solely on the scrape test because some of those stems will be last years and new shoots will spring from the base. Summer and autumn raspberries fruit differently (but I can never remember which does what!!) There'll be an answer on here somewhere

[DGoulston]

there is only 1 stem... will look into it a bit more, could not find much on google, will search here a little more.

[Chocolate8me]

If it's any consolation, I bought 2 raspberry 'sticks' in an offer in GYO magazine in November 2011. I think they labeled them the wrong way round because the summer 'Glen Ample' has done nothing yet the autumn 'Polka' is flourishing with flowers.

I haven't given up on the other one just in case.

Does anyone know if you are supposed to nip off the tips as the top half is just leaves and midway is where the flowers are at?

[VirginVegGrower]

Don't rely solely on the scrape test because some of those stems will be last years and new shoots will spring from the base. Summer and autumn raspberries fruit differently (but I can never remember which does what!!) There'll be an answer on here somewhere

My summer canes, I cut to about 4" high - the new canes are roughly two feet now. The autumn ones I cut to ground level and the new canes are about a foot high.

[Poolcue]

I brought the 3 pack from Wilkinson's, (one early/mid/late) and the Late one came through about 2 weeks ago, but nothing from the others. I did not chop the canes down either.

I have to say, when I planted them, the Late one did look more alive than the rest!

D.

Likewise 1 cane has been broken the other two are totally lifeless