Raspberries producing new canes in January?!

[catgirl]

Hi guys,

I planted some autumn-fruiting raspberry canes in November last year, fully expecting them to stay dormant until spring time. Yesterday however I was in the garden and noticed three green shoots coming up around one of the canes. I'm assuming these are new canes the plant has produced, but what with it only being January, aren't these likely to die off once winter properly sets in? And do any of you know whether this is likely to harm my plant / yield in any way?

The weather here still reaches 5-10 degrees every day so I'm guessing the raspberries are just confused and think spring has arrived early...

[boundtothesoil]

The weather here still reaches 5-10 degrees every day so I'm guessing the raspberries are just confused and think spring has arrived early...

I'd let them be. If real winter temperatures never come they may survive and give you a really strong set of canes this year. Alternatively, a run of severe frosts and they're likely to die back. I'm not sure of the relative pros and cons of cutting them right back should the latter happen, but I'd have thought that once spring comes you'd get a new set of shoots anyway. I don't like to go poking around amongst the roots of raspberry canes at this time of the year as the young developing shoots still to break the surface of the soil are so easily broken.

[rustylady]

I would just leave them to it. They may get frosted and die back, but if they do more new shoots will be produced when Spring proper arrives.

By the way Catgirl, could you please add your location (nearest town) to your profile please. Then it will show on your posts and helps a lot when giving advice.

[catgirl]

Thanks both of you. I will leave them well alone then and hope for the best!

Rustylady - Sorry, I didn't realise it wasn't on there! Have put it on now. Thanks for drawing my attention to it.

[WendyC]

If you are worried about them getting frosted, you could add another layer of mulch to protect them such as used compost, bark chippings , manure.

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine always do the same, but they're just fine come March

[broch]

Leave them be - they will do just fine on their own.

[binley100]

I just leave them to do their own thing they pop up all over the place .....have to take them out my beds tho'

[catgirl]

Thanks everyone! I've never grown raspberries before so am a bit paranoid. I suppose it's a good sign that at least I don't seem to have killed them off during planting.