Raspberry Canes

Are they summer fruiting or autumn raspberries?
Whatever they are, you will soon have many more. I would say stick them in the ground, raspberries are not fussy.
Their later treatment depends on whether they are autumn (lovely) or summer (insipid imho!) ones though. You'll find that out in due time I expect!

 

We've always only had autumn ones. I think in general full or partial sun.
Yes, they spread and keep spreading: a lot of the work involved in raspberry growing will be digging up the youngsters! We always offer them on freecycle once a year.
I hope it says on the packet what they are, then you can just google it up.

 

I don't think it matters which type they are so long as you cut down canes that have finished fruiting some time after fruiting (sooner after fruiting will mean you will still be able to easily see the little cone that help the fruit, making it easier to work out which canes fruited, and which did not). For Summer fruiting this will be half the canes (next year's canes will be growing whilst this years' are fruiting) and for Autumn fruiting it will be all of them (next year's fruiting canes will start growing next Spring).

A couple of canes isn't really enough for a meal - you could do with 5 at least, and I think that 10 would be better. You'll get more canes next year etc. but you could buy a few more now, if you have space to plant them and they have any more left (need to be same variety though, otherwise you might get a variety that fruits a month earlier/later and you will then get half-a-meal but for a month longer!)

Cut them down to the ground after planting, and if they are Autumn fruiting they will attempt to fruit this year, and I recommend that you take the flowers off so that they don't waste energy fruiting and build up their roots instead so you get stronger canes next year.

 

That's a bit disappointing. Lots of raspberries to make jam in summer. You don't live near here do you, or you could get some of my lovely autumn fruiting ones?
Mind you, if they did fruit in May they would be much appreciated then. Though that's not likely to be this year indeed!

 

You won't want to let them fruit in their first year IMO. They are probably short canes anyway, but I would cut them down after planting to encourage new "suckers" which will bear next year's fruit.

Here's what my RHS book "Growing fruit" says:

"If possible rows should run North-South, 18" apart. If more than one row 6' between rows. Spread roots out well and keep the plant about 3" deep. Deeper planting inhibits production of new canes (suckers).

After planting cut canes to a bud about 9" - 12" above the ground. In following spring, when new canes appear, cut down the old stump to ground level before it fruits. This means forgoing a crop in first summer but it ensures good establishment and the production of strong new canes in subsequent years"

 

I recommend not letting them fruit in the first year (i.e. if they attempt to, if short / cut back chances are that they won't, although Autumn Fruiting variety would try to)