Bare root raspberry canes

[pdjpeter]

Hi all,

i'm pretty sure i'm going to look at bit of an idiot but i'm not sure what to do!

About a month ago we picked up 5 raspberry canes (summer fruiting) soaked them in water (as per the instructions) and planted them. Today my partners parents came round and said i need to spread the canes out and not plant them in one go!? because they will suffocate each other and produce no fruit



first question is are they right? the second question is what should i do, shall i spread them out now or should i leave them like that for the summer and then transport them in the Autumn and separate them out? how far apart do they need to be? they have been doing so well over the last couple of weeks i'm scared to move them!

thanks

Pete

[veggiechicken]

I'd bite the bullet and dig them up, with plenty of soil around the roots.
Separate them carefully and replant about a foot apart.
They'll be fine. raspberries are as tough as old boots.

[Jay-ell]

I'll second VC.

Last year mine went in alot later than this and I got a small crop as there was only 2 canes with one or two caned each. This year they've taken over a 4' x 8' bed - I had to move a fig tree as they were about to overwhelm it.

They're tough plants and soon your problems will include keeping the things under control and thinning out the canes.

[pdjpeter]

Thanks for the advice, i'll separate them out this week at some point. Bit annoying that the instruction list didn't tell me to separate them, maybe its obvious maybe its not who knows?!

[Bigmallly]

I dug a clump up last week & separated them into about 6/7 individual cans, just make sure they have some roots..............which sounds obvious really.

[Thelma Sanders]

I planted some new ones just this weekend, after they'd had a good soak ! At least yours will still be fresh, as you dig them up you'll replant them, they'll hardly notice the difference.. They should do well

[Kirk]

Dig the up, seperate and plant in a row about 10-12 inches apart.
Raspberries are pretty robust. When they establish themselves they will send out runners underground and you will find new ones appearing.

[Gillykat]

I'm SO pleased I saw this thread as i have six raspberries that need to be shifted but I thought I was going to have to wait until the autumn or winter. I'll get them moved today as I have a spot they can go into straight away.

The area I put them into last year turns out to be the spot Neil Neil wants for his shed *arghhhhhh*

[pdjpeter]

Shifted and separated out yesterday bit concerned about the bounty of fruits i'm going to get from 5 canes!

[Jay-ell]

This year you may not get a load (if any) but they'll send out new canes in summer/autumn for next year. After that they will keep multiplying.