Raspberries
The griff
Posts: 2
i have some polka raspberry canes I put in at the end of February. When I bought them the old canes had been cut to about 15 Inches. I just planted them as they were, expecting the new canes to grow from the root next to the old canes.
As the weeks have gone past only 4 out of 9 canes have grown new canes from the ground and 3 of the others have only grown bushy bits from the old canes that were sticking up, even the 4 that have started to grow new canes have started to grow shoots off the bits of old cane.
i am guessing I should of probably cut the canes down to ground level back in February to encourage the new canes to grow from the ground.
would it be better to just leave the new growth on the old canes and possibly get a small early crop off them or chop the old canes down to ground level now so the roots put the energy into the new canes growing from the ground which being an autumn variety should give a good crop this year.
Posts
I'd leave them for now and you'll get an extended cropping period. Next Feb cut them back to soil level.
I planted Polka in Feb of last year - we had a fantastic crop and this year the canes have really multiplied - I may need a larger freezer.
They are thirsty plants - I gave mine as much water as my runner beans last summer and it really paid dividends.
I put the sprinkler on mine this last weekend for 20 minutes as we're on light soil and the canes have a lot of leaf which can lose moisture quickly in hot weather.
Enjoy the raspberries - they're really good
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.