How much growth for berries??

[kentishgal]

I have a blackberry and autumn raspberries and I really thought they would of grown abit more by now. So far both are only about a foot tall, although they have flowered and have fruit starting to develop. Do they grow more in their second year or is there something I should be doing??

[bearded bloke]

Last year (first year of growing) my raspberries struggled to get to the 3 foot high wire,but this year a lot have already touched the top of the cage which is 6ft 6in high Think the variety is Autumn Goldcan check later but it is tipping down at the moment

[veggiechicken]

If they've flowered and fruited, don't worry about it. They'll start sending up new shoots for next year's fruit soon (or if autumn ones next spring!). I have a thornless blackberry that's been in the ground for at least 5 years but is only a couple of feet tall - lots of width though!! The raspberries are all about 5' but I let them grow wild

[bearded bloke]

If they've flowered and fruited, don't worry about it. They'll start sending up new shoots for next year's fruit soon.

Autumn variety VC so assuming there was some "old wood" on the root stock when planted,new growth will be fruit bearing later this season
Kentishgal,as soon as the "old wood" has fruited cut it back to near ground level,this will ensure all the energy is put into new growth & more fruit

[veggiechicken]

I sit corrected BB My razzers are so mixed up I can't differentiate between summer and autumn fruiters, red or yellow ones I prune by foot - if its brown and brittle, stand on it and snap it off! Highly technical technique that I don't normally reveal So Kentishgal, just ignore me
BUT I have just been weeding around the blackberry and I do know where that is in my jungle garden and it took a couple of years to do much at all..

[bearded bloke]

You just flash VC,I only got autumn variety Love the pruning technique

Kentishgal,if like me you only have autumn ones,then when you prune at the end of the season leave the strongest stem about a foot long,this will give a small early fruiting & also helps identify where the rootball is.

[veggiechicken]

If ever you want a mixed collection of razzers let me know. They have to go soon, they're taking over the garden (Cardiff). Some parts are impenetrable, seriously!

[bearded bloke]

That's a very kind offer VC can I put name down for half a dozen summer variety please

[veggiechicken]

No, you can't have half a dozen. You must have at least 50, and you have to dig them up yourself

[rustylady]

Kentishgal, are they in pots or in open ground?

[FB.]

I'm surprised that they're not bigger.

As asked above by rustylady: where/how are you growing them - and what kind of soil do you have?

Many people underestimate how much food or water is needed with potted plant. Many people completely misjudge their soil quality (they regularly over-estimate or under-estimate).

[veggiechicken]

Raspberries taking over the garden!

Here you are BB and anyone else who'd like some raspberry canes. At least a quarter of the end of the garden is overrun by raspberries. Come and dig your own, please
!

[kentishgal]

Mine are in the ground and the soil is pretty good (not clay or sandy). The only problem is for the poor yellow leaved razzer at the end of the border who is probably suffering coz he's in the corner of the garden that has the poorest drainage.
The border also has strawberries, kale, wildflowers, sweet peas, thyme and lavender and they all seem really happy there!
(Im probably just being impatient coz I want to stuff my face with raspberries!!LOL)