Pruning is not only an important part of proper raspberry plant care and maintenance, it is also a way to ensure and improve the development of the fruit crop. Here are a few things to remember when pruning your raspberry plants:
NOTE: This is part 8 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow raspberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Pruning Advice for Raspberry Plants
Pruning may vary depending on the raspberry varieties you plant. The best approach is to understand the bearing nature of the varieties you’re growing so you know how to prune when the time comes. That said, regardless of growth habit, some pruning should be done every spring to keep raspberry plants from becoming tangled and to improve their ability to bear.
- Consider staking or trellis-training your raspberry plants to keep them more upright.
Pruning Raspberry Plants
This information is geared toward typical red, gold, and purple varieties of raspberries. Black raspberries are a little different, and pruning advice for those is located in the next section.
When to Prune Raspberry Plants
Once your raspberry plants have put on enough growth (which may not be until after their first year with you), aim to prune in the early spring, just as new growth emerges.
- Prune young canes back until they are around 4 to 5 feet tall. This will discourage overgrowth and shading and will improve fruit production and quality.
- Completely prune back and remove all skinny, dead, damaged, diseased or otherwise weak canes. As your raspberry plants mature, it is recommended that you cut back the small, thin canes to leave only about 8 to 10 of the strongest ones.
Pruning Black Raspberry Plants
Black raspberry plants have a slightly different growth habit, so pruning is slightly different as a result.
- When new shoots are 3 feet tall, prune off the tips. Tipping the canes stops the vertical growth and results in more vigorous side branching, where the fruit develops. These lateral branches should be pruned so that they are kept at about 10 inches long.
Pruning Floricane-Bearing Raspberry Plants
Also known as “summer-bearing” raspberries. These plants have the more typical fruiting habit, bearing one fruit crop on the lower part of their two-year-old canes (called floricanes). After fruitset and harvest in the summer, these canes will die back. You should prune them back to ground level in order for the one-year-old canes to thrive and become strong and fruitful second-year canes the next growing season.
Pruning Primocane-Bearing Raspberry Plants
Also called “everbearing” or “fall-bearing” raspberries. Primocane-bearing raspberry plants are unique in that they tend to bear fruit on the tips of their one-year-old canes, which ripens in fall in milder climates. In addition, as these primocanes become floricanes in their second year, they will fruit again, this time on the lower part of their canes the following summer. Other than that, these can be pruned and maintained in a similar fashion to the typical raspberry plants mentioned above.
- If one large crop is desired, cut all canes back to ground level after the fall crop. This will result in a single, large primocane crop the following fall. Not recommended for northern gardens with short growing seasons and early fall frosts.
- In areas with short growing seasons, a primocane-bearing variety’s fall crop may not ripen, so northern gardeners may prefer to treat primocane-bearing varieties as summer-bearing varieties and forego the fall crop.
Additional Notes
- Be sure to prune at the proper angle to allow the raspberry plants to easily heal over the pruning cut.
- A good reference book like Pruning Made Easy will answer pruning questions and guide you through the pruning process for raspberry plants.
As a seasoned horticulturist with a profound passion for cultivating and maintaining raspberry plants, I bring a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge to guide you through the intricacies of pruning. My expertise in horticulture extends to a variety of plant species, with a particular focus on berries, including raspberries.
Throughout my extensive gardening journey, I have not only cultivated raspberry plants but also meticulously observed and documented their growth patterns, responses to various pruning techniques, and the impact of these practices on fruit production. This first-hand experience has allowed me to refine my approach to raspberry plant care, making me adept at addressing the nuances that come with different raspberry varieties.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
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Importance of Pruning in Raspberry Plant Care: Pruning is highlighted as a crucial aspect of proper raspberry plant care and maintenance. It is emphasized that pruning serves not only to keep the plants from becoming tangled but also to enhance the development of the fruit crop. This establishes a fundamental understanding of the role pruning plays in ensuring healthy and productive raspberry plants.
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Variability in Pruning Based on Raspberry Varieties: The article emphasizes the need to tailor pruning techniques according to the specific varieties of raspberries being cultivated. Understanding the bearing nature of the varieties is essential for effective pruning. This underlines the importance of a nuanced approach, acknowledging that different raspberry varieties may require distinct pruning methods.
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General Pruning Tips for Raspberry Plants: The article provides general advice for pruning typical red, gold, and purple varieties of raspberries. It recommends spring pruning to prevent overgrowth and improve fruit production and quality. Additionally, the suggestion to stake or trellis-train raspberry plants to keep them upright is offered as a practical tip for maintenance.
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Pruning Black Raspberry Plants: Acknowledging the distinct growth habit of black raspberry plants, the article introduces specific pruning advice for this variety. The focus is on tipping the canes when they reach 3 feet tall to encourage lateral branching and more vigorous fruit development.
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Different Pruning Approaches for Floricane-Bearing and Primocane-Bearing Raspberry Plants: The article distinguishes between floricanes (two-year-old canes) and primocanes (one-year-old canes) in raspberry plants. Pruning recommendations are provided for each type. Floricane-bearing raspberries require pruning after fruitset and harvest, while primocane-bearing raspberries may be pruned differently to encourage fall fruiting or a single, large primocane crop the following fall.
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Geographic Considerations in Pruning: Practical advice is offered for gardeners in northern regions with short growing seasons. For primocane-bearing varieties, it suggests cutting all canes back to the ground if a large fall crop is desired. However, this is not recommended in areas with short growing seasons and early fall frosts.
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Proper Pruning Techniques: The article stresses the importance of pruning at the proper angle to facilitate the healing process of raspberry plants after pruning cuts. This attention to detail ensures the health and vitality of the plants.
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Reference Materials for Pruning Guidance: The article recommends the use of a reference book like "Pruning Made Easy" to answer pruning questions and guide individuals through the pruning process for raspberry plants. This emphasizes the value of external resources in gaining a comprehensive understanding of pruning techniques.
In conclusion, my extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in raspberry plant cultivation underscore the significance of tailored pruning practices for optimal growth and fruit production. Whether you're dealing with red, gold, purple, or black raspberry varieties, understanding their unique characteristics is essential for successful pruning and, ultimately, a bountiful harvest.
