Should I cut down autumn raspberries ?

[wbmkk]

I planted a row of autumn raspberries a few weeks ago, leaving the stems as they were, ie about 1 foot tall (30cm)

I knew about cutting the canes down to ground level, but at the time I planted them, I had left my secateurs at home. I just never got around to it.

I noticed yesterday, a couple of the raspberries are now showing signs of life in a big way, several wee leaves showing from the cane, at about 6" above the ground.

Now my question (at last ! I hear you cry) .... Should I prune everything back to ground level now, including the ones now growing ... Or am I too late ?

Thank you

[Thelma Sanders]

I'd leave them unpruned now but don't forget next year

[coveredinoil]

For me you have 2 options (but that's just me!)
1 take out some of the old stems and leave new growth, best rasbugs will be on the new growth but should get some on the old.
Or
2 just leave as they are for this year and cut every thing back later.


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[wbmkk]

Thanks for the replies.

I might just cut down the ones which still look dormant and leave the few that are sprouting.

[KirstieSparkle]

Ummm, why do we cut things down?
I'm seeing a lot of the nature knows what it's doing stuff, surely they don't get cut down in nature?

Gardening = permanent confusion.... But lots of learning :-)

[Bill HH]

I did exactly the same (leaving the old growth on) , But I cut my right down to the ground last week, they will then shoot uniformley from the ground.

[lottie dolly]

I left them with the 1ft stems the first year,they do produce some fruit on them,as well as the new shoots,i cut them all down to the ground recently,i am looking forwards to much more fruit this year,already i have tiny shoots appearing all over the bed they in,

[WendyC]

Ummm, why do we cut things down?
I'm seeing a lot of the nature knows what it's doing stuff, surely they don't get cut down in nature?

Gardening = permanent confusion.... But lots of learning :-)

Because we are growing to feed ourselves and want the biggest and the best fruit. Nature just wants to survive.

[Two_Sheds]

why do we cut things down? ... surely they don't get cut down in nature?

You're right, they don't get pruned by Nature, but then do you really want a 25' thicket of tangled spiny canes?

[KarlB924]

If you leave a few, you'll get some early raspberries (as if it was a summer variety), but then you'll get your regular crop later on. I left a few canes on last year (because I was confused and thought they were summer rasps), and had to net them because of the birds in the early summer, but they left the autumn-fruits completely alone.

[IndigoElectron]

I planted my raspberry canes a few days ago, but I didn't cut them down because they were only around 10 cm tall to begin with! I wonder now if I should have cut a little bit off the top. Any advice please?

[KarlB924]

Nah, they should be fine. I left mine about 10cm high so I'd have something to grab while I split them.

[RedThorn]

I planted my raspberry canes a few days ago, but I didn't cut them down because they were only around 10 cm tall to begin with! I wonder now if I should have cut a little bit off the top. Any advice please?

Leave them to the end of the season, then prune them

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks, I'll do that