Hello everyone, I'm a seasoned gardener with a particular fondness for raspberries. I've spent years cultivating these delicious berries and love sharing my knowledge. Let's delve into the world of raspberry pruning, a crucial practice for a bountiful harvest.

## Raspberry Pruning: A Comprehensive Guide

Pruning might seem harsh, but it's an act of kindness towards your raspberry plants. It encourages healthy growth, maximizes yield, and prevents overcrowding, which can lead to diseases.

The first step is understanding the two main types of raspberries: summer-bearing (also known as floricane-fruiting) and fall-bearing (or primocane-fruiting). They have different growth habits and thus require distinct pruning approaches.

### Summer-Bearing Raspberries

When to Prune: Late winter or early spring, while the plants are still dormant, is the ideal time.

How to Prune:


1. Identify the canes: Summer-bearing raspberries fruit on second-year canes called floricanes. These canes are thicker and browner than the first-year canes called primocanes, which are green and will bear fruit the following year.

2. Remove the fruited canes: Locate the canes that fruited the previous summer. They will appear dry and brittle. Cut these canes down to the ground.

3. Thin the remaining canes: Select 4-5 of the sturdiest primocanes per foot of row and remove the rest. These remaining canes will produce fruit the following summer. Cut back any spindly or weak growth on these selected canes.

### Fall-Bearing Raspberries

When to Prune: You have two options with fall-bearing raspberries:

**Option 1: Prune for a single, late-summer/fall harvest**

* When to Prune: Late winter or early spring.
* How to Prune: Cut all canes down to the ground. This will encourage vigorous new primocanes that will fruit in the fall.

Option 2: Prune for a double harvest (a smaller summer crop followed by a larger fall crop)

* When to Prune: Late winter or early spring AND after the fall harvest.
* How to Prune:
* Late Winter/Early Spring: Cut back any weak or spindly canes. Thin remaining canes to 4-6 inches.
* After Fall Harvest: Cut down to the ground only the canes that fruited in the fall. These will be the top portions of the canes. Leave the lower portions of the canes, as they will fruit the following summer.

### General Pruning Tips:

* Use sharp, clean tools: This will prevent the spread of diseases.
* Don't be afraid to prune: It's better to prune too much than too little.
* Dispose of pruned canes: Remove pruned canes from your garden to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

By following these pruning practices, you'll ensure your raspberry plants remain healthy, productive, and bursting with delicious berries for years to come. Happy gardening!

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In late winter (February) prune all the canes to ground level before growth commences. The plants will fruit on new growth. Pruning summer-fruiting raspberries these produce fruit on one year old canes. In autumn cut all canes down to soil level that bore fruit during the summer.read more >>