Raspberries

Hello chums

This has no doubt been asked already, so my apologies.
I have recently acquired a plot, and I want to plant some Raspberries. I have cleared the ground and now have the opportunity to (hopefully) provide ideal growing conditions. I'm thinking just incorporate plenty of 'muck'? Is it essential that I provide netting?

Cheers...Freddy

 

Somebody gave me some Polka rasp canes on freecycle recently and I'm afraid I've just shoved them in the nearest piece of vacant ground without ceremony or preamble. I'm prepared to discover just how suboptimal this procedure has been, however.

 

Mulch or muck will suit them fine, they like moist soil.
As far as netting goes I assume you are worried about birds eating the fruit? I never put netting on mine and the birds never eat the fruit. It does depend where you are though. Try without netting first and see what happens.

 

Freddy

I have to net otherwise the blackbirds have the lot , but I do attach some old CD'S attached to string just to make the birds aware of the netting as I would hate the thought of one getting caught up in it all.

 

I throw netting over once the fruit has set to keep the birds off and i give them a good deep mulch with FYM

 

I've never had netting on mine either, and the only danger to them was me

 

I don't net mine, but I did plant plenty - some for the wildlife and some for me. I think the wasps eat more than the birds bother with.

I wonder how many canes you need though? I look at it as enough canes for a crop (applies to anything - like Asparagus, or Apple trees ...). I see people saying that they have bought 3 canes, or whatever, and think "They will only ever have enough, at any one time, to decorate a cake" and what I want is that the four of us (or a dozen friend who have come round for lunch) can have a bowl full.

I have 10 plants of each variety (and 10 varieties from mega-early to so-late-the-frost-gets-them), but I don't do a lot to look after them, so fewer than 10 plants would probably give enough crop for most people

 

I'd also say...if you like Raspberrys and you have the space get as many as you can fit in,you'll only wished you had

 

Hiya folks, thanks for the replies

I don't have a lot of space, so I'm thinking around a dozen canes.

As I'm not expecting much of a crop in the first year, I've kinda written off this years harvest, so your suggestion seems a good one, ie not much to lose.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Hi Kristen

Most dont have the space , but miuex que rien

 

@Freddy ...are you planting Autumn canes aswel ?...i've heard say they are even tastier....i've just got the summer varieties....1..because i haven't the space ...2.. because Raspberrys are a summer thing for me

 

Hiya @Lolimac

I'm only going for Autumn, easier to manage

 

Sorry for the hijack, but whilst you are on the discussion of rasps, can someone remind me the difference between the care of summer and autumn. Cant remember which one gets cut down when?!

 

Basically, with summer fruiting, the fruits are formed on the previous seasons 'wood', whereas autumn fruiting is formed on the current seasons 'wood'. This to my mind makes it easier to grow autumn varieties. It's just a case of cutting them down in the winter.

 

Cheers Freddy, got it! When the chickens are all gone, I have a netted enclosure ready for a fruit cage! Lots of raspberries me thinks! Yum yum!

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