Raspberrys

[1888andybhoy]

How easy are Raspberry canes to grow and what preperation would i need to do for them? Also what maintenance do need during the growing season? Do they need support or are they free standing ? And if structure then what structure do i build ?
Many Thanks
Andrew.

[1888andybhoy]

Anybody?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andrew, raspberry canes are easy to grow. Ideally they want planting in the autumn and dig in plenty of well rotted compost beforehand. Raspberries are shallow rooted so plant to where you see the old soil line on the canes and spread out the roots. Then cut the canes down to about 10 inches above the ground. They don't really need support but I prefer to use two wood supports at each end of a row with a length of wire across the top to keep the canes in place. I always throw a handful of Growmore around the canes when they start growing in the spring. Autumn fruiting are probably the easiest because you just cut the canes down to 4 inches above the ground in November ready for the following year.

[tanyae]

I'm also new to growing raspberries. I bought 4 canes last year. They are in a black tub/pot at the end of the garden. I let them grow last year and cut them right down this year in Feb. Lots of new shoots and leaves now. Is it a good idea to re-plant the raspberry into my raised veg bed or does it need it's own space since they have shallow roots?
I assume that when I do replant it I need to dig a big hole, put compost (and a handful of Growmore??) and lots of water before closing it up?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Tanyae, the best time to transplant bare rooted raspberry canes (just knock the soil off the roots) is between November and March when the canes are dormant. Raspberry canes send out runners that new canes grow from so if you were to plant the canes in your raised bed they could take over more space than you allowed for. Raspberry canes don't need a deep hole, just plant them to where you can see the soil line on the stems and throw some Growmore around the canes.

You can transplant raspberry canes with the compost completely intact around the roots at any time of the year - in other words if you bought a fruit bush growing in a pot you would remove the pot and plant it with the root ball and compost complete. As your raspberry canes are growing well I would leave them alone and transplant in November.