When is the right time to cut back summer fruiting raspberries?
Written by Daily Fix - Published 28-Aug-2023, last updated 28-Jun-2024
You've enjoyed harvesting delicious raspberries this summer, but now that your summer bearing raspberries (floricanes) have ceased to bear fruit the raspberry canes are looking bare and in need of a good haircut.
But how do you prune summer fruiting raspberry bushes, should you cut back summer fruiting raspberries after fruiting and when is it too late to prune summer raspberries?
What month do you cut summer raspberries back?
It may sound like a daft question, but there are no daft questions when it comes to gardening!
Summer-fruiting raspberries produce their fruit on one-year-old stems (the previous season's growth). You should cut back summer fruiting raspberries immediately after harvest. This is because the fruited stems will die after they have produced fruit, and leaving them on the plant will only attract pests and diseases. Cutting them back will also encourage new growth, which will produce fruit the following summer.
The exact time you should cut back your summer raspberry bushes will vary depending on your location and the weather, but if you want strong canes and a good crop of your own raspberries next summer then cut back your raspberries after they have finished fruiting.
How to prune back summer fruiting raspberries
Here are the steps on how to prune summer fruiting raspberries:
- Cut all the canes that fruited this year (floricanes) down to ground level.
- Select the strongest young green stems that have grown during the current season (primocanes) and tie them to your horizontal wires, spacing them 8-10cm (3-4in) apart. These are the canes that will bear fruit next season.
- Cut all remaining (excess) young stems to ground level.
Tips for pruning summer fruiting raspberries
Here are some tips for pruning summer fruiting raspberries:
- Use sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts.
- Dispose of the old, fruited stems in the compost compost bin (assuming they are not diseased).
- Do not leave any short stubs, as these can attract pests and diseases.
- Water the plants well after pruning.
Look forward to a bumper raspberry crop next year!
Knowing when to cut back summer fruiting raspberries is crucial for maintaining healthy plants and maximising fruit production. By understanding the growth cycle and characteristics of summer raspberries you can properly time your raspberry pruning.
With proper pruning, your summer fruiting raspberries will produce a bountiful crop of delicious fruit year after year.