Autumn Raspberries

Yes I would for the first year, to ensure strong growth of main stems.

So as this is the first time I will prune my plant, should I just cut it all down to the ground this year?

I have no idea what my raspberries are- which 'breed' or type- apart that they are delicious and that that pruning system gives us a much longer period of fruit. The canes were given to me by an elderly neighbour- I have planted 2 more rows last autumn with the stray runners- and another row now again- and will keep doing so over the years- and then start given them to others... I love it when it works like that. Same with all my perrenials too.

Might buy a ferw canes of a named variety next Spring- just to get a different taste- although I can't imagine it can be better than the ones we've got ;) Just don't fancy the yellow ones though.

Oh my thanks for that reminder granjura I started doing that last year not sure if was you that told me last year. I did get two crops as you say.. must remember to leave a few with longer canes..

I cut them down to a couple of inches but new canes will shoot from the old roots as well as new ones alongside. The sort of send out runners underground and new canes spring along the runner.

I never cut them before winter- and in Spring I cut some by half, and some to the ground- that way I get a long season, with the earlies on the ones not cut down, and lates for the others.

When I see the cost of raspberries in the shops- I think growing raspberries only makes total sense for us.

tanith thank you, that's really useful information. When you say down to the ground, roughly how much will you leave showing?

Meant to add I shall be cutting mine down anytime soon it makes that part of my garden look so tidy when I've cut the canes down to the ground ready for next year.

WilmaKnidersfit I didn't get many berries the first year but the canes soon spread and next year you'll get more.

PS Forgot to say the berries are going mouldy on my plant too.

So glad I saw this thread because I have the opposite problem. This is my first year growing autumn raspberries and I have been a bit disappointed. I only have one bush/cane, but the crop has been pretty poor and now it's November, we've got squally wind and rain. At the most I've had about 10 berries ripe for picking. Is this normal for one plant? There's plenty of greenery, just not many berries.

never ever wash them- either eat straight from the bush as I am pottering in the garden, eat the same day (never fancy desserts- just with plain yogurt) or freeze on trays then bag once hard.

Decided to totally give up veggies and strawberries- fed up with fighting with slugs, weeds, and worrying about a fox peeing on them- from next year, only raspberries - use the same canes but different pruning to get them from August to early November- perfect and so so easy to grow.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions I do think its just too damp out, I do pick them every morning so I'll just eat what are ok each day and give up on the idea of freezing any for now. I prefer to wash them as more than once I've found a snail on the leaves and don't want to be eating snail slime.. [thisgrin]

Mine are just starting to go, too. You need to pick every single day when they get like that, and pick when they are slightly paler and underripe.

I would avoid washing them. I am eating mine straight from the cane whenever I see them.

Not sure. A shame my neighbour didn't pick the many pounds of autumn raspberries during the nearly 3 weeks we were away in UK- they are still on the bush, but past their best now- had she picked them reguarly, we would have plenty more fresh ones now as we are having a fabulous Indian Summer with lots of sunshine and high temps! Will have to remind her next time - such a waste- but the birds will be truly thankful to find them when the snow comes.

Could be the humidity levels. It may also be a virus I suppose -you could Google it.