Pruning is difficult, but it helps stimulates new growth, produces a larger harvest, and removes disease from the plant.It's important to know the differences between the different canes, optimal pruning time, and the basicPruning basics associated with raspberries.You'll be reaping a full harvest come summer time, and maybe again in September.
Step 1: There are two basic types of raspberries.
There are two types of rasberry plants, fall-fruiting and summer- fruiting.Two different types of canes are referred to by the terms 'primocane' and 'floricane'.The canes grow in the first year and the second year.Fall-bearing plants may have a second season in early summer, while summer plants only fruit in the summer.They need different measures to be effective because of their different growth patterns.Both summer and fall-bearing raspberries will bear fruit.
Step 2: Find out if you are growing fall-bearing raspberries.
The fall-bearing raspberries require more care than the summer ones.There are three different types of canes in fall-bearing raspberries.There are green and flexible shoots that grow directly from the ground, unlike branches, which may have small buds attached to the cane.There is a dark brown bark on the stems of florcanes.There are smaller shoots on the sides where the fruit will grow.Non-fruiting suckers are small, spindly canes that are typically 12 the size and width of primocanes.Non-fruiting suckers don't produce any fruit, and serve no productive purpose, as the name suggests.The fall-bearing raspberries are usually red and yellow in color.If the plants have never been trimmed, fall-bearing raspberries may not produce twice a year.
Step 3: Do you know if you are growing summer fruit?
Although technically both fall and summer bearing fruit, summer-bearing raspberries only bear fruit in the summer.You will need to allow the primocanes to grow in order to produce fruit.Most of the purple and black varieties of raspberries are summer-bearing.When cut open, they will be dead on the inside.They are grayish/tan.
Step 4: Prune when you know what to do.
In the winter, raspberry varieties should be trimmed.This is because the berry canes are not active during this time, so any pruning will not hurt the current growth pattern.Between November and March, raspberries can be trimmed.Pruning in February or March is preferred by horticulturists because the root system has time to store more food.
Step 5: Get the right tools.
You will need a good set of gardening shears or loppers, gloves, and safety goggles.Safety is a priority when it comes to rasberry brambles, they tend to be thornier and have pointed branches.
Step 6: Place the plant on the ground.
You can cut everything down to ground level in the spring.You will only have one harvest in the fall.The fall harvest may produce higher quality fruit.
Step 7: If you thin the primocanes you can get two harvests.
Don't cut down all of your canes if you want a fall and summer harvest.If you thin out the canes, there will be about four or five primocanes per foot.Having too many canes will restrict growth and the overall harvest of the bushes.The canes should be cut at ground level.
Step 8: After the harvest, cut down the flowers.
After they have produced a crop, florcanes should be cut down.They won't produce another crop.To cut them to the ground, use your shears.You should remove them in the summer before the fall crop comes in.
Step 9: There are suckers that are not fruiting.
Non-fruiting suckers are small, thin, short canes that take up space in the berry.They don't bear fruit and use up a lot of space, so they should be removed.To cut them at the ground, use your shears.Don't pull them out from the ground, as this will pull up the root system of the healthy primocanes, which will kill your bush.
Step 10: Remove the dead or sickly primocanes.
The branches would have produced fruit in the fall.When broken in half, dead or sickly primocanes will be gray or black in color, and won't have green wood in the center.They will look thin and brittle.If you leave old canes in your patch, they could carry disease that could ruin your new fruiting crop.
Step 11: The tips of the primocanes should be Prune.
If the canes are tall, it may be easier to harvest them later.It might encourage a bigger crop.You can use your shears to cut off the tips.Don't remove more than 25% of a primocane.The harvest will be reduced by doing so.Pinching is the practice of cutting the tips off.It is a good time to do this.The heat of summer will cause the harvest to be delayed.It is not recommended in the north-eastern United States because the plants may be vulnerable to winter injury.
Step 12: You should know how often to trim.
You need to allow the canes to grow for two years in order to produce fruit in the summer.After they have fruited, you will tend to the flowers on the ground.Allow primocanes to grow so that they develop into fruit in the second year.If you have too many primocanes, you may need to thin them out.Floricanes are usually cut down after they have fruited or during the winter.When the plant is three years old, suppress primocanes.The yield of your harvest may be reduced if you thin the primocanes too much.
Step 13: After they produce fruit, cut down all the floricanes.
Leaving florcanes will do you no good because they die off after a single harvest.When they have produced a crop in the second year, use your shears to cut the branches at ground level.You can cut out suckers that aren't fruiting.
Step 14: The canes should be removed.
If your plant starts growing canes again, you may need to thin them to make a bigger crop.Too many canes will limit the amount of cane that can be grown and the number of berries that will be produced.Only the healthiest canes should be removed so that each cane is 9-inches from the next.You should leave at least four or five primocanes per foot when you fertilize in late spring.The first set of emerging primocanes will be shorn completely in the late spring.The pierres can grow to produce fruit in the second year.It's not a good idea to use this method every third or fourth year.
Step 15: If necessary, pinch the top of the canes.
When cutting off a small amount of the tip, it's a good idea to pinch the canes.Because they grow from the ground up, they don't have a lot of time to grow large.If they become particularly tall, you can cut down 3–4 inches from the tips of the canes.
Step 16: The proper way to set it up is with a set of vines.
You can grow raspberries if you provide them with plenty of sunlight.For a single row of raspberries, use a T shaped trellis with two parallel wires.A 'T' shaped trellis is made by putting two t-shaped boards opposite each other.A piece of wire is strung from one arm of the 'T' to the other.The berries will be planted in a row.Each row should be at least 2 feet wide.
Step 17: It's a good idea to know the proper way to plant your berry crops.
A row of fruit will grow between wires.Each cane from the plant needs to be tied to the wire with 6 inches spacing between canes.One cane on the left wire will be used to switch sides with the right wire.The V shape will be created when the canes are viewed from one end.It is possible for sunlight to reach the entire stalks of the cane.
Step 18: Each cane needs to be tied up.
Make sure the cane touches the wire on the other side.To secure the cane to the wire, use a small piece of twine, a twist-tie, or another tying instrument.Don't tie it too tight because the wind can move it out of place and expose the center of the cane to sunlight.