Raspberry canes - Summer or Autumn?

I was given some raspberry plants last year and told they were summer fruiting but this year they didn�t start to fruit until about a month ago (could be more)and there are plenty of ripe raspberries still on now and many green ones yet to ripen.

However, when, a few weeks ago, I asked the person who gave them to me, he repeated that they were summer fruiting but he didn't sound too sure this time! He has both types by the way.

Because summer and autumn fruiting raspberries are pruned differently I need to be certain which I have.

I checked previous posts and from what I read I would say that these they are really autumn fruiting but is there any way I can tell for certain other than waiting until they fruit, as I have done? Is there a noticeable, physical difference between the two types?

I�d be grateful for any help before I prune them this year (or next)!

John

 

hi John,

i'm not sure about physical differences to look for but i'm sure that summer ones fruit on last years growth whilst autumn one fruit on this years growth.

hope thats of help.

 

I planted both summer and autumn ones all mixed together not realising at the time about the different pruning methods, and now I can't tell them apart. Would there be anything wrong with leaving all the growth and just pruning back the bits that are too high or dead? that way I don't cut anything that I shouldn't.

 

Thanks for your reply but that's the problem - with summer fruiting raspberries you tie up the new shoots you want to keep and cut back the fruiting ones to a few inches above ground while with autumn fruiting you cut all shoots short at the begining of the year. However, I need to know which mine are because, if they're summer fruiting, the pruning must be done this month or nextand I don't know which way to jump.

One correction to my question - according to my wife my canes first fruited in June and not as I said, however, I have an excuse as I was ruched into hospital in June for a serious operation and didn't really take any notice of the garden until August when I was recovering. Sorry about that!

 

this raspberry is described as everbearing- friuting early on old canes and then later on new canes.

http://www.the-plant-directory.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=734


there are a few 'care' tips also on the link.

maybe thats what you've got???

 

You may be right, perhaps they are "Everlasting". I'll have ask the chap who gave them to me, once again, to see if I get a different story!

If only I had known about summer and autumn (and now everlasting!) raspberries when I was given them! Perhaps, then, I would have asked more questions!

Thanks for your reply.

 

Hi Quaedor36, I'm sure that they are Summer Fruiting as the person who gave them to you has said, the reason for this is that they fruited in June which would not have happened if they were Autumn Fuiting canes and then you say that they have fruited recently which is exactly what mine have done this year due to the weather conditions, infact I have recently covered this on my website, it has been a very odd season for Strawberries as well, as they have fruited for a second time, hope this helps reassure you regards Steve.

http://www.myallotments.com

 

You are correct, raspberies are usualy defined by their normal fruiting period. However many plants dont do what you expect them to do and you can manipulate them to fruit at different times. Autumn fruiters will fruit on old canes the following June if not cut back and by cutting back by varing degrees of severity you can adjust the cropping times further, The crop on the old canes of autumn fruiters arent usualy as good as proper summer fruiting types.

In addition to that summer fruiters often produce a second crop on the new canes, like an autumn fruiter, although this depends on the weather in late summer/autumn and the crop isnt that big, often arriving very late on to be of value

As for sorting out which canes are which if you have muddled them up, I dont know how best to do this although autumn fruiters are usualy more vigorous growers and form a suckering thicket, wheras summer types are les vigourous and a bit more civilised! This is not a hard and fast rule and depends on the variety. If the autumn fruiters are 'Autumn Bliss' them you should be able to tell using this rule.

If you really cant tell by looking at them, then divide them up into two groups, cut one group hard back in spring, like autumn raspberries, and treat the other group as for summer types. This is the best advice I can offer.

I hope this helps.