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Raspberries

Alison 39Alison 39 Posts: 9
in Fruit & veg
I got a small allotment nearly a year ago and then earlier this year I got the plot next door. Previous allotment holder had 4 hexagonal raised beds and the rest was very uneven grass. 
There's a lot of work to do on the new plot and I'm lifting the raised beds as tried to use them this year and they were hopeless due to size and shape.
However, one of the raised beds had autumn fruiting raspberries so thought I would leave them and see how well they did this year. The answer is, not very well at all possibly due to wild strawberries and bindweed. 
My initial plan was to dig up the canes and move to Plot 1 (ensuring no bind weed) but I'm wondering whether its worth it as I don't know what variety they are or how old they are and based on the poor fruit this year should I just buy new. 
Advice please! 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,126
    I'd be tempted to buy new Certified Virus Free canes then you know what you've got and that they are healthy. Moving them to another plot is a good idea too as you may miss bits of roots from the ones you currently have and they'll resprout.
    There are a few viruses that can affect them and I've just disposed of my Glen Moy as it had leaf blister mite. I'll replace them with another (resistant) summer variety next autumn.

    I been getting plenty from my Autumn raspbs. Joan J. Started picking in mid July and picking them every day since.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Alison 39Alison 39 Posts: 9
    Thanks for the advice, I'm 80% leaning to the buying new canes but might end up doing a mix of both depending on how easy the canes lift.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,126
    The canes will lft easily enough, they're very shallow rooted.
    If it were me, I'd definitely not mix them up in the same plot.
    You mentioned the existing canes are not doing well, so they're either getting too old or they have a disease of some sort. If you get new canes they would get any disease your old plants may have.

    A few new canes in a fresh location will multiply at an alarming rate once they're start growing and they soon spread into quite a big patch if you let them.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Alison 39Alison 39 Posts: 9
    Well thats settled it, new canes it is! Thank you so much for your advice.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,126
    Good luck 🤞

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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