I’m sneaking in a few last-minute chores before seed-sowing begins in earnest. One of the quickest and most satisfying is giving those autumn raspberry canes a little chop back. You should cut them down to ground level in winter, while the plants are still fast asleep, and then give them a little pick-me up in the form of some comfrey tea. I also draw a warm blanket of mulch around their shallow roots: some well-rotted horse manure does perfectly.
Of course, you can leave the canes to produce an earlier crop. But if you’ve planted both summer and autumn-fruiting varieties, there isn’t much point: autumn raspberries bring fruit just when other crops are starting to dwindle, so chop away now for a happy, fruity autumn.
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 8:55 pm
I too have been doing some chores before the seed sowing starts, although starting a garden again almost from scratch is more of a project that a “chore”.
I have left you a little meme on my site by the way.
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 8:55 pm
We - or better: our 12 year old son - decided last week it was time for exactly the same job. So he has done that on his own… So nice to see how that kid loves garden chores…
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Oh, love the sepia pics F&F!
on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 6:31 am
Anne, that sounds like you’ve got it sorted with your son! I might take some advice from you on getting my husband to spontaneously prune raspberry canes as well!