Raspberries

Question 1

Raspberries are cane fruit. What are the two varieties and how do they differ?

Answer 1

• Summer: flower in the spring on previous season’s wood and fruit ripens in summer
• Autumn: Flower on current season’s wood and the fruit ripens in autumn.

Question 2

Explain site and soil selection for raspberries.

Answer 2

• Sheltered position
• Sun or light shade
• Well-drained yet moisture retentive
• Rich soil
• pH of 6 - 6.5
• Dislike poor, stony, alkaline soils.

Question 3

Explain the support of raspberries.

Answer 3

• Raspberries need support, usually in the form of post and wire fencing
• Good circulation of air is required, so avoid solid structures like walls
• Erect prior to soil preparation and planting
• Run north to south so one row does not shade another
• Wires at 75cm, 1.1m and 1.5m height.

Question 4

Explain soil preparation and planting of raspberries.

Answer 4

• Clear area of weeds
• Cultivate an area at least 90cm wide
• Incorporate generous amounts of bulky organic matter
• Purchase virus-free stock to plant in the autumn
• Dig a trench and space canes 40cm apart, spreading out the roots before backfilling and firming
• Don’t plant too deep or too shallow (the junction between cane and roots should be no more than 7cm below soil level)
• Prune canes back to 25cm above ground level, just above a bud
• Once strong new canes have grown, cut out the original cane.

Question 5

Explain the cultivation of raspberries.

Answer 5

• Fertilise with potassium sulphate at 35g/sqm in January
• Apply ammonium sulphate at 20g/sqm in March
• Every 3 yrs apply superphosphate at 60g/sqm
• Mulch in March with well-rotted organic matter
• Tie the canes into the supports
• Weed the area at the base of the canes
• Remove suckers
• Water weekly (20l/sqm) but avoid overhead watering
• Protect from birds.

Question 6

Explain harvesting and storage of raspberries.

Answer 6

• harvest fruits when they are ripe (they come away easily)
• Pick every other day, being careful not to bruise the fruit
• Best eaten straight away but will store in the fridge a few days
• Can be bottled, frozen or jammed.

Question 7

Explain pruning of raspberries.

Answer 7

Summer fruiting:

• Cut all stems that have produced fruit down to ground level after harvest
• Retain up to eight of the current season’s stems (greener) per metre and tie them in to the support system, spacing them out regularly
• The following spring cut them back to 15cm above the support wire.

Autumn fruiting:

• In late winter, before growth starts, cut all the canes down to the ground.

Question 8

Name pest and a disease of raspberries, including symptoms and control method.

Answer 8

Raspberry beetle

• Yellow brown larvae feed on inside of fruit, causing it dried up patches near the stalk
• Use approved contact insecticide (pyrethrins) when first pink fruits are seen.

Raspberry viruses

• Raspberries are affected by a range of viruses that can reduce yield and quality, cause yellow blotching of leaves, or distortion of leaves
• Buy certifed virus-free plants; remove/destroy infected plants; control weeds (hosts of vectors) and aphids (vectors).

Question 9

Name 3 summer fruiting raspberries

Answer 9

• Delight
• Malling Orion
• Malling Admiral AGM.

Question 10

Name 3 autumn fruiting cultivars of raspberries.

Answer 10

• Autumn Bliss AGM
• September
• Fallgold.