unidentified raspberryish objects

[chickenlicker]

We have just moved into a new house and there are some raspberry canes in the garden. I think they must be autumn fruiting as I remember noticing they were raspberries when we were viewing the house in October. There are buds just forming on the canes now but I'm wondering whether I should prune them or leave well alone. I've never grown raspberries before and so haven't a clue what I'm doing! Any advice would be very welcome

[darkbrowneggs]

If they are autumn fruiting you are probably not TOOOO late to prune them now. I cut mine to about 6". If you are not sure if they are autumn fruiting why not do half and leave half, and see what happens.

All the best
Sue

[Odsox]

No, not too late in my humble opinion as I only did mine a couple of weeks ago.
Chop them off now just above ground level and they will soon throw up new shoots, which will start to flower about July and fruit from August until the first severe frost.
You might have to take care not to harm any new shoots coming up when you cut the old ones down (something you don't have to worry about if you prune them earlier )

[boboff]

To prune or not to prune that is the question.

I for one can profer no wisdom on this subject.

What ever you do it will be fine.

[chickenlicker]

I've just been out to have another look at them and there are buds sprouting about 3/4 of the way up all the canes. Do you reckon I should just leave them now or is it still worth pruning? Ta again!

[Odsox]

Have a look around the base of the canes and see if there are any pinkish red shoots coming up through the soil. If there is, they are the new replacement canes starting to grow.

[chickenlicker]

Thanks osdox but then what? Can I just cut them as long as i don't cut below any red buds, is that what you're saying?!

[Odsox]

No not buds, new shoots coming out of the ground anywhere within a foot or so of the old canes.
These would be replacement canes that will fruit this autumn, then you can cut the old ones off at ground level.

[MKG]

There seems to be a confusion somewhere over the two types. Spring-fruiting raspberries fruit on the canes grown the previous year, so any canes you have should NOT be pruned. Autumn-fruiting types fruit on canes grown this year, so any existing canes at this time can be pruned out, but the shoots coming from the ground at the base of the plants mustn't be touched. As you appear to be sure that you have autumn-fruiting plants, then the existing canes can be taken out. But, as Odsox says, it's the shoots (as opposed to any buds on the old canes) which need to stay where they are.

Mike

[chickenlicker]

This is a bit of a change of topic but it's still about the same raspberries so what the heck...! I've cut down the canes and there seem to be some new shoots growing in the patch now so hopefully these are the new canes growing (could be wrong tho). The raspberries are actually going to be growing inside where our new amazing walk in chicken pen is going to be. I'd like to keep them in there but but protect them from the chickens while they are growing. Any ideas? They will be in one corner so I think that make it easier to protect them. The chickens are highly skilled scavengers with very stretchy necks being ex-bats!! I have a vague notion that the raspberries will need to grow up some bamboo canes but haven't looked into this yet.

[Millymollymandy]

Hee hee, the only thing I'm saying is that I haven't pruned my autumn ones yet as I have been away so no time.