Idaho Growin': Ramble of Raspberries

Unlike my childhood memory of Granny Allen’s ramble of raspberries, full of blooms, bees, and berries, I have intentionally kept my inherited cluster of raspberries small. These amazing plants have tolerated moving to several locations as my landscaping has evolved over the years. The neglected collection of crowns and canes continue to survive regardless of my inattention, still able to produce a tasty source of edible entertainment for the grandkids, filling their mouths more than their cups, with tasty berries.

My only attempt at pruning my berry patch was taking a shovel to a wandering sucker that ventured too far from its designated home, never giving much thought to how mindful pruning practices could improve fruit production. As with all plants we nurture in our garden, it is important to know your plant. With intentions of creating a bountiful crop to create Granny’s preserves, a better understanding of my mistreated patch is priority!

Raspberries are unique because they have perennial roots and crowns that can live for many years. The canes or stems that produce the flowers and eventually berries are biennial. Biennial canes live for two years then die.

Primocanes (that will flower and fruit the following year.) are new shoots that arise in the spring from the main crown, or new suckers that rise from roots away from the main plant.

Floricanes are the second season canes that die after producing fruit. Most berry brambles produce fruit on floricanes.

Primocane vs. Floricane Varieties Most varieties of blackberries and raspberries are floricane fruiting, or summer-bearing, which means they produce berries only on the second-year growth, the floricanes. The fruit appears in early- to midsummer. Primocane varieties are also known as fall-bearing or everbearing plants. Ever-bearing varieties produce fruit on the floricanes in the summer, but they also produce fruit on the primocanes. The primocane fruiting occurs at the tips in early fall or late summer in the first year. They will then produce fruit lower on the primocanes the following year in early summer. If you are growing this type of berry, it is best to sacrifice the early summer crop by pruning back primocanes after they produce in the fall. Cut them down close to the ground, and you’ll get fewer but better-quality berries the following year.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Primocane Vs. Floricane – Distinguishing Between Primocanes And Floricanes https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/fegen/distinguishing-primocanes-vs-floricanes.htm

There are two types of raspberries. Summer or June Bearers and Ever Bearers, also known as Fall Bearers.

Summer/June Bearers produce vegetative, non-fruiting primocanes the first growing season. Flowers and berries will form on these canes the following year. During the second growing season, the floricanes produces its fruit, then the cane dies to the ground.

When pruning Summer/June bearers, it is easy to identify the dead canes and prune it back to the crown. Cutting out dead canes is recommended after harvest when the canes are dry or in the early spring, before new growth starts. Prune out spindly canes and thin the crown, leaving 2-4 of the strongest canes, cutting them back to 4-5 feet in height. Remove unwanted suckers that are sprouting outside of your designated area.

Summer Bearing – June Bearing

Fall/Ever Bearers, if pruned correctly, have the potential to produce two crops in one

season. The primocanes that grow during the first year will produce fruit late in the summer or early fall at the top of the cane until the first frost, then the top of the cane will die. The next summer, fruit will form lower on the same cane. To get both fall and summer crops, prune the canes as described for June Bearers.

Fall Bearing – Everbearing

If you desire a larger crop of berries in the fall, cut Fall Bearer canes at ground level. This

convenient practice will typically produce one larger crop of berries in the fall but no summer crop. It is recommended to mow or cut off all canes close to the ground. If stubs are left, buds that sprout in the spring will produce weak, unproductive branches.

Raspberries are forgiving and with a small amount of time and attention they will produce a bounty of berries. To the delight of my grandkids and satisfaction of knowing this would have pleased Granny, I approach my berry patch armed with sharpened shears, knowledge, and confidence with intention for an abundance of berries for Granny’s freezer jam.