When to plant raspberries?

I have ordered same 'Joan J' raspberry canes, but they are delayed with delivery. It said in the planting guide that they should be planted by end of March. My canes should be arriving at the end of this month. Can I still plant them out? They are a Autumn fruiting variety.
I have heard that you can only plant out raspberry cane's at certain times of the year, & any time of the year if they are pot grown. Is this true?

If I am too late, what can i do???

Please Help!!:cnfs:

 

You'll be alright as long as you prepare a good trench for them and plant them imediately they arrive, loads of compost and bone meal and keep them watered over the summer.

Rasberrys like a slightly acid soil so if your on an alkaline PH then feed them with sequested iron.

Planting now isn't ideal but you'll get away with it.

 

I planted mine very late last year. They were planted in poorly prepared soil, and fairly abandoned (although it was a wet summer, so from that perspective it was a good season to establish new plants). We got a half-decent crop off them, which I wasn't expecting and this year they have a very vigorous amount of growth on them.

(Summer Fruiting raspberries you cut down to the ground on planting, but Autumn fruiting you do NOT)

 

Thank you Paul!!

Will I still have to soak the canes in water for 24hours before planting?

Thanks

Claire:gnthb:

 

Thanks Kristen!!

You helped with another of my questions about whether I need to prune!!

Thanks

Claire:gnthb:

 

When I plant my canes, what spacing between plants do I need? I will have 12 canes when they get here.
Will they need protecting from birds & when should I be expecting my first fruit crop?

Sorry for all the questions!!:o

Thanks

Claire:gnthb::D

 

I wouldn't be inclined to soak them for 24 hours as that's a long time for any plant to be immersed (unless the supplier tells you to do that). I would have though an hour was plenty.

I would soak them immediately on arrival, and if you can't plant them straight away then put them in a plastic bag - so that the roots are in the bag, and the tops sticking out, and put them somewhere cool - garage perhaps. if you can't plant them for a few days then heel them in after soaking.

Ordinarily I would expect Joan J to start cropping in August, but first season, and late planting, will make them later than that.

 

I agree, a short soak, certainly not 24 hours. Youll get a crop this year but nothing special, a proper crop next season.

 

Thank you for all your wonderful advice!

Kind Regards

Claire:gnthb: