More raspberry confusion

[teakdesk]

I've started a new thread to the other that is live at the moment because my question is similar but slightly different.

We've had both summer and autumn varieties in different beds and always removed any stem that had fruited or died on both varieties.

Two years ago I cleared the summer ones as a blackcurrant, gooseberry and loganberry bush had taken over that bed and extended the other bed and planted an extra 18 autumn fruiting varieties.

Last year we had a good crop in autumn as expected. However we never got round to ANY pruning and this year the bed has been a jungle with the new growth.

We've had masses of raspberries off the plants in this bed over the last two months (much earlier than I expected) and we have now pruned out all the stems that had fruited. Looking at the plants now we have all this year's new growth left and they are just starting to fruit, about the time I would expect autumn fruiting ones to fruit.



My confusion/question is "where did the stems that have summer fruited come from?".

My only explanation is that the stems that fruited last autumn and didn't get pruned have fruited a second time this summer... is this possible? If it is I'll leave this year's autumn fruiting stems for next year as well!

[BUFFS]

I've started a new thread to the other that is live at the moment because my question is similar but slightly different.

We've had both summer and autumn varieties in different beds and always removed any stem that had fruited or died on both varieties.

Two years ago I cleared the summer ones as a blackcurrant, gooseberry and loganberry bush had taken over that bed and extended the other bed and planted an extra 18 autumn fruiting varieties.

Last year we had a good crop in autumn as expected. However we never got round to ANY pruning and this year the bed has been a jungle with the new growth.

We've had masses of raspberries off the plants in this bed over the last two months (much earlier than I expected) and we have now pruned out all the stems that had fruited. Looking at the plants now we have all this year's new growth left and they are just starting to fruit, about the time I would expect autumn fruiting ones to fruit.



My confusion/question is "where did the stems that have summer fruited come from?".

My only explanation is that the stems that fruited last autumn and didn't get pruned have fruited a second time this summer... is this possible? If it is I'll leave this year's autumn fruiting stems for next year as well!

they are the unfruited stems from last year, have a look on the other raspberry query I have just added to..

[teakdesk]

Thanks Buffs, I can understand what you are saying.

I didn't notice any stems that had not fruited last year, but then I wasn't looking for them as they never got any pruning!

I'll pay attention to the ones starting to fruit now.

[BUFFS]

in a few weeks those that have fruited will have leaves that look shabby and old compared to the unfruited stems, this makes it easier to tell them apart, its hard work tying them all in but worth it so good luck......

[marchogaeth]

As I said on the other thread I've been a "half pruner" fro half of my row but after BUFFS' comments on both these threads I will be just taking out those that have fruited. My proper autumn crop has just started and they are the best I've had so far this being the third year of recovery from total neglect. BUFFS do Autumn raspberries need replacing or will they just go on forever if they are fed and watered?

PS I don't have to tie mine in/up, they get to about 6' but don't flop even in some quite dramatic winds - infact they are my windbreak for the veg.

[BUFFS]

As I said on the other thread I've been a "half pruner" fro half of my row but after BUFFS' comments on both these threads I will be just taking out those that have fruited. My proper autumn crop has just started and they are the best I've had so far this being the third year of recovery from total neglect. BUFFS do Autumn raspberries need replacing or will they just go on forever if they are fed and watered?

PS I don't have to tie mine in/up, they get to about 6' but don't flop even in some quite dramatic winds - infact they are my windbreak for the veg.

i have had mine for some years now and as new shoots appear each spring and are cut down after fruiting only the rootmass has any age, so if kept in good soil with water and a spring mulch those roots could happily last decades(the only feed needed all year, home made compost for example or some of that composted horse manure over the roots in feb, I then put some bark on top to keep the moisture where it is needed and it stops any problem with weeds), mine are on a north facing wall @ 5ft height and are really thriving as once settled in all you do each year is tie in new shoots, pick the fruit and trim out fruited stems, as the meerkat says "simples"....

[BUFFS]

[QUOTE=BUFFS;1275486]i have had mine for some years now and as new shoots appear each spring and are cut down after fruiting only the rootmass has any age, so if kept in good soil with water and a spring mulch those roots could happily last decades(the only feed needed all year, home made compost for example or some of that composted horse manure over the roots in feb, I then put some bark on top to keep the moisture where it is needed and it stops any problem with weeds), mine are on a north facing wall @ 5ft height and are really thriving as once settled in all you do each year is tie in new shoots, pick the fruit and trim out fruited stems, as the meerkat says "simples"...

and I saw monty don advising the same method on gardeners world on Friday night as this being the way he also treats his autumn fruiting raspberries to get the best crops, sustainably.....

[Kristen]

I too think that "feeding the soil" is important with Raspberries.