raspberries Flashcards
How should be ground be prepared?
Remove weeds and grasses. Dig in well rotted manure.
How to plant?
Rasberries tend to run in rows north to south. Plant during the dormant season from November to march. Rows are spaced 2m apart. Individual plants should be 45cm apart. Space out roots well and plant about 6cm deep. Cut back to 30cm above the ground.
How to support plants
Post and wire structures can confine the cans and keep them upright.A single or double fence can be used. Canes should be tied into single fences.
How to mulch
Use a well rotted stable manure. Potassium needed on light sandy soils - use rock potash.
Well rotted chicken manure at 70g/m2 annually.
How to prune for establishment
Cut back to 30cm above the ground straight after planting.
How to irrigate
Water during dry spells - particularly during fruit set and development. Apply water at ground level. Drip irrigation systems or a leaky hose are ideal.
How to prune for maintenance
Floracanes bear fruit on previous summers growth so cut old canes to ground level after fruiting. Tie in new canes. In late winter, cut tips of the canes back to 15cm above the top wire. Cut above a bud.
Primocanes bear fruit on this years growth so canes should be cut back close to the ground in early spring.
to to top dress for maintenance
In early spring, feed with a high potassium general fertiliser around the base of the plants. Apply poultry manure pellets if the growth is weak. Mulch with well rotted manure or garden compost.
how to keep weeds down around plants
Hoe regularly between rows. Mulch in spring to keep weeds down.
pest control for crop
Pigeons are a pest. Protect crop with netting or fleece.
disease control for crop
Raspberry cane blight causes fruiting canes to wither away in summer, bases of canes turn dark brown and the bark may split. Canes snap easily at the base.
Make sure plants are strong through mulching and watering. Make sure canes are spaced properly at planting time for air circulation.Cut out to below soil level and burn any affected canes, clean secateurs between cuts.
when should plants be replaced
after 7 to 10 years, or once they are showing signs of disease.
should plants be tied in?
Yes
when to harvest
Rasberries should be harvested when they are richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off on a dry day. Depending on the variety, they will be ripe in early summer or autumn.
how to know if it is ripe
Richly coloured, plump and easy to pull off.
