How to plant long-cane raspberries

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How to plant long-cane raspberries

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 at 3:00 pm

Long-cane raspberries crop within weeks of planting them. We show you how to do it.

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Summer-fruiting raspberries crop on stems made the previous year, so after planting bare-root canes, you'll need to wait until the subsequent growing season to enjoy your harvest. Long-cane raspberry plants, however, have pre-formed flowerbuds and can be planted and harvested in the same growing season.

They're quite pricey, but a good option if you don't want to wait for your crop.

During the summer the plants will send up new canes from the base of the plant, and these will go on to produce fruit in the following year.

You Will Need

Long-cane raspberries
Garden spade
Garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure
Sulphate of potash
2.5m fencing posts
Vine eyes
Galvanised wire
Plastic tensioner
Mycorrhizal fungi
Secateurs
Soft string or twine
Watering can

Total time: An afternoon

Step 1

Planting long-cane raspberries - digging the soil

Choose a bright, sunny site and well-drained soil. Dig over the ground, removing any weeds and large stones, then work in plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost. Sprinkle sulphate of potash over the soil surface and fork it in lightly.

Step 2

Planting long-cane raspberries - fixing the plastic tensioner

To support the canes, stand 2.5m long fencing posts in 75cm-deep holes and fix firmly in place. Space the posts 5m apart. Screw vine eyes into each post at 60cm intervals, thread plastic coated wire through the eyes, then tighten each row with a plastic tensioner.

Step 3

Planting long-cane raspberries - dipping the roots in mycorrhizal fungi

Make up a solution of mycorrhizal fungi, then dunk the bare roots into it until coated. Using secateurs, trim each root, removing damaged sections and anything that will not fit into the planting hole. Place the plants in position along the row, spacing them about 45cm apart.

Step 4

Planting long-cane raspberries - planting the canes

Dig a hole for each bare-root plant adjacent to the lowest wire. Plant 15-20cm deep, so the roots are covered, but no deeper. Soak the plants well, then tie each cane to the wires using string or twine.

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