Replacing raspberry canes

[Happy flower]

In February we finally got a half plot allotment which had quite a number of raspberry canes in one bed. We left them alone to see what they would be like as none of our neighbours knew if the were summer or autum canes. They turned out to be old and passed their best, certainly not like any we had grown before.

Our question is, can we take out the old canes and replace with new in the same bed?

Many thanks

[Aberdeenplotter]

The answer is yes but you would be better using a bit of new ground. Growing the same crop year on year in the same spot depletes the ground of the nutrients the crop requires to perform to its optimum

[redser]

Just dig in plenty of manure or compost and they will appreciate it. But I guess a new bed would be 'best'. Did they put up any suckers? Providing there was no disease these will be like new plants for free

[Potstubsdustbins]

As above new ground if possible. You may wish to look at Marshalls Seeds site they have a offer on at the mo. 6 canes of 3 varieties for less than a tenner.

Colin

[Happy flower]

Many thanks

Many thanks for the replys.

We have spent some time looking at our plans and have decided to put the new raspberrys at the other end of the plot.

We will be planting Malling Minerva, All Gold and Polka, five canes of each. We have grown Polka before and they were very good and are looking forward to getting them in the ground in the next few days with a couple of new rhubarb crowns 'Livingstone'.

[FB.]

I'll bet that giving the tired old "good for nothing" raspberries a good mulch of manure or compost soon, and again late in the winter, will do wonders for them next year and teh following couple of seasons. Manure and compost may appear to be low-nutrient, but it is my belief that it also improves and feeds the "friendly fungi" in the soil, which then work together with the plant.
Synthetic fertilisers do nothing to feed the "friendly fungi" in the soil, as those fungi need rotting plant matter (compost or manure). Just like you can easily grow mushrooms in horse manure but you can't easily grow them in your ordinary garden soil.
Don't underestimate the usefulness of a healthy soil.

Raspberries and other soft fruits are very hungry plants and are among the first to start losing productivity if the soil is depleted.