Preparing for winter: pruning raspberries after fruiting

The development cycle of the aerial part of raspberries is 2 years. Pruning raspberries after fruiting stimulates the growth of new stems instead of old, prevents the reproduction of pests and diseases. By technology, it is slightly different for summer and autumn varieties. The best time for this procedure is the end of summer or September-October.

Summer grades

Summer varieties are very popular and very productive. Berries grow on the lateral shoots of biennial stems. The number of lateral branches depends on the growth of the stem: on the long stem there are many, on the short stem - a little.

When planting the stem is cut to 25 cm from the ground. In the first year the bush does not bear fruit, so the flowers on the stumps should be removed. From the ground, new stems will appear, which are thinned, leaving the strongest. The correct pruning of raspberries during this period is trimming hemp to a level of 25 cm to the ground.

A year after planting the shrub grows a series of strong stems, which are tied to the support of wire. Its upper row should be at a distance of 1.5 m from the soil. The plant begins to bear fruit. Pruning of raspberry after fruiting of summer varieties is made to the level of the soil, since the stem "lives" only for 2 years. Young stems are thin, leaving an interval of 10 cm, and tied to the wire.

Autumn varieties

Fruits of autumn varieties grow on lateral branchlets, which are located at the apex of the stem. When planting, the plant is cut in the same way as the raspberry of summer varieties. In early spring, completely remove all the stems - this stimulates the rapid growth of young shoots, which will bear fruit in September. Pruning raspberry after fruiting is to remove the aboveground part of the bush completely.

In this there is nothing to worry about - young stems will appear in the spring. Among them will be the weak, so raspberry must be thinned and leave only powerful shoots: so they will quickly gain strength. If necessary, the plants are tied to the wire. Since growth, branching, fruiting in autumn varieties occurs in one year, the pruning of raspberries after fruiting is carried out to the ground annually.

The annual cycle of development in the repair raspberry (autumn varieties) has the following advantages:

• Pests and diseases do not have time to multiply;
• Do not freeze the stems, since they are not in winter.

There is also a shortcoming: a short summer is not always enough to realize the potential of fruiting. Therefore, with the onset of cold weather on the branches, flowers and berries can still be found.

The stems of patchwork varieties can be left for the second year for fruiting - they do not shrink, unlike the biannual ones. In this case, young shoots will give the first harvest, and last year's shoots - the second. Berries will not be much, but there will be an extension of the period of fresh fruits.

So, we looked at how and when to cut the bush. Pruning raspberries for the winter is the removal of two-year-old shoots of summer varieties and annual stems of autumn varieties to the soil level. It must be remembered that all cut branches are carried away from the site and burned, as otherwise they can become a source of spreading pests. Protect your plants, and they will ensure you a high harvest!