Dead raspberry - no replacements available. Accept different variety or refund?

[Stan79]

Hi folks,

One of the 10 raspberries that I planted hasn't taken and RHS have been very efficient in replying to my enquiry about a replacement.

They have offered a refund or a different summer variety.

I'm not sure which to go for? Is there any issue having different varieties close together. I'm assuming not as I've planted my summer and autumn ones close together...

Your thoughts greatly appreciated!!!

Stan

[Moopmoop]

I have my raspberries planted next to each other which I would guess most others have too. As regards for the replacement/refund situation, so you have 9 and they will replace you with one different? Hmm, I'd be intrigued to get it and see if it tasted different to the others. On the other hand it's only one plant and you already have 9, do you need another? How much is the refund? If it's a couple of pound I'd take the plant, if it's £5 or more I'd take the refund and buy another fruit plant, currant bush etc?

[chrisdb]

It's cool that you're getting a refund. In the last two years I've bought a few bunches (is that the right word?) of raspberry canes, and I don't think I've yet had all of them grow. I've just accepted it, in the same way I accept that not all seeds germinate when I buy a seed package, but maybe next time I should demand a refund too!

In answer to your question, I've haven't had any issues growing different varieties together either. It's a good idea to have separate patches for summer and autumn raspberries because it makes pruning easier, but the raspberries themselves don't mind growing together and I don't think the risk of disease is any higher than growing the same variety. In fact, it may be lower due to more genetic diversity.

What exactly are the RHS offering you? Are they really going to send out exactly one replacement cane? If they're offering you a new bunch of 5 or 10 just because one died then that sounds like a good offer to me. And even if it's a 1:1 replacement... well, raspberry canes are so cheap, do you really want a refund of £1 or £2? Would you notice the difference in your bank account?

[Stan79]

Thanks both. I just asked what their policy is and got a lovely email back. Think I'll go for the replacement.

[Kristen]

I'm not sure that if you had a different variety you'd notice any taste difference (in a whole bowlful), so I think that would work. If you got, say, a yellow one then you'd have a few different coloured berries to colour up a bowlful - although after the novelty of Yellow ones wore off my lot avoid them now, they just don't "look right" even though if you close your eyes you couldn't tell what colour you were eating - they all taste of Raspberry of course!

However, that said, if the different-variety one you get fruits at a slightly different time you'll get a tiny handful of fruit off that one plant, not enough for a meal, whilst the other 9 are fruiting at their different time. I think that would make me, personally, wary of having a different variety.

Your 9 plants will spread a fair bit. I bought 10 plants(**) and they certainly provide enough for a meal with friends round, so I would think that 9 was "enough", particularly if you remove a sucker next year and plant it where the 10th one should have been. (No sense having a replacement next year, you can do-you-own with your own suckers for that job so you might as well have a refund, or a completely different plant)

(**) I have 10 canes each of several different varieties, chosen to fruit at different times

[Scarlet]

I'd go for a replacement, can you see if you an get one that fruits slightly earlier/later than the one you have? Extend your picking season.

[alldigging]

Go for something different!

[Stan79]

Thanks all. Going for a different variety... I've got to say, the customer service from RHS has been brilliant!