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Broadback[_3_] · 18-08-2013, 10:01 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 18/08/2013 08:40, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sun, 18 Aug 2013 08:21:36 +0100, (Peter
James) wrote:

My autumn fruiting raspberries are now in their fourth year and their
cropping level is appalling. The last three years saw no crop apart
from literally four or five fruit. This year maybe a cup full of
berries from eight canes.

Each winter I cut the canes down to the ground in February and mulch
them with compost. I feed them with chicken pellets twice a year.

My inclination is to dig them up and to replace them. On another forum
someone suggested leaving the canes until next year and to treat them as
a summer fruiting variety as it's not unknown for nurserymen to make a
mistake when bundling up fruit canes for dispatch. And yet they do
fruit in the autumn but only a very little. So I'm not sure this is a
good suggestion to follow.

I would be grateful for any thoughts from the regulars on this news
group.

Peter

I think you are feeding them too much. My Autumn fruiting raspberries
did really well the last few years I had my allotment and I never fed
or mulched them apart from some sulphate of potash one year. You are
feeding at the expense of fruit. Give them a year unfed. Cut them down
and leave them and see what happens.

Pam in Bristol

Mine are in their third year. Last year they were very disappointing,
which I was told here is usual and wait a year. Well I have, and though
better they are no match for my Summer ones, either in quantity or
quality. I wonder if I should have thinned out the canes during the
Summer, as it is a veritable jungle. If they are as poor next year I
will give up and remove them.