pruning soft fruit canes

[Andy Hamilton]

I have a bunch of raspberry plants on my allotment, most finished fruiting ages ago but I noticed a few have just finished fruiting. Having not grown them before this year I am not entirley sure what to do about pruning them.

I believe that as soon as they stop fruiting I should cut them back, this seems to be about now. How far back do I cut them and can I replant what I cut and use them as hardwood cuttings?

[HILLDREAMER90]

Cut all 1s that have fruited right down to soil, leaving new shoots for next years fruit. You could try hardwood cuttings, if u have enuff prob better to dig new 1s from the edge with few roots attached [suckers].A.

[maggie144]

i have just moved all my soft fruit canes, once i moved them i then pruned them back quite hard and replanted some of them.

best way is to dig a trench , stand the cuttings up in the trench then backfill. i had 10 fruit canes last year and by doing the pruning in this way i have now doubled my crop.

hope this help

maggie

[eek]

I have tried to grow raspberries with no success. My property is pretty much all sand in the sun and very humid. I have 2 acres of woodland in the back with lots of springs running under heavy leaf mulch, very mushy most of the time.

I have planted them in the sun, in the shade, and no go. Would planting them in the wet mulch do anything? I hate to waste more money on plants but would love some berries.

Any tips?

[Millymollymandy]

You need to prepare your soil before planting. Dig in loads of well rotted manure or compost (or even that leaf mould from your woodland), then put more on top after planting as a mulch. Anything to help the soil retain moisture.

[eek]

Will do, thanks!