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Raspberry rust - is this the end?

Rhubarb FairyRhubarb Fairy Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg

Just one thing after another. My five year old raspberry plants have now got orange rust under the leaves.  Does this ,mean I have to dig them up and burn them? I hate doing that, makes me feel like a murderer.image Are they salvageable, ?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    It's when the orange pustules turn to black that they produce overwintering spores, so you could just cut (all) the canes down to ground level now.  If they are summer fruiting types you will lose next year's crop but they should grow rust free next year.  If an autumn fruiting type then they'll grow and fruit as normal next year.  The rust is a fungus which only affects the leaves so the roots will be fine.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Rhubarb FairyRhubarb Fairy Posts: 10

    Thanks Bob. I got more sense out of you than I did out of half a dozen so-called gardening websites.☺

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    You're welcome PurpleShed.  Clear up any fallen leaves too and put a couple of inches of compost or well rotted manure over the area as a mulch which will both feed them for next year and cover any spores which might already have fallen. image

    Last edited: 17 September 2016 16:46:10

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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