There are two kinds of raspberry - those which fruit in summer, and those which fruit in autumn; and they need different treatment.

• Planting - for both Raspberries
  • Plant them between November and February, about 15 inches apart.   Add compost or well-rotted manure to the holes.   Cut the canes back to 10 or 12 inches - prune them just above a good strong bud.
  • Give them a good annual mulch of well-rotted manure or compost - in February.
  • Raspberries are susceptible to virus infection - choose virus resistant varieties, and keep plants healthy; if they do become infected, they will lose their vigour and will need to be removed.   Start a new raspberry bed somewhere else in the plot.
• Summer Fruiting Raspberries - produce fruit on canes from the previous year
  • Tie the new canes to 2 or 3 supporting wires strung between 6 foot high fence posts.   Keep about 1 cane for every 4 inches.
  • The following season, when the canes have finished fruiting, cut them out.   Tie in the vegetative canes which have grown this year in to the wires - they will fruit next year.
• Autumn Fruiting Raspberries - produce fruit on canes from this year
  • Tie the new canes to 2 or 3 supporting wires strung between 6 foot high fence posts.   Keep about 1 cane for every 4 inches.
  • In February, cut out the old canes to ground level to make way for new growth.