Raspberry in February: monthly care

How you prune raspberries depends entirely on whether you're growing summer-fruiting or autumn-fruiting varieties, so identify your type before you start. Summer-fruiting raspberries produce fruit on canes that grew the previous year. Prune these in August immediately after harvest: cut all the canes that have just fruited right down to ground level, as they won't fruit again. Tie in the new green canes that have grown during the summer—these will carry next year's crop. Thin them to about six strong canes per plant, removing any weak, damaged, or overcrowded stems. In late February or early March, tip back the remaining canes to about 15 cm above the top wire to encourage side shoots and keep growth manageable. Autumn-fruiting raspberries bear fruit on the current season's growth, which makes pruning much simpler. In February or March, cut every single cane down to ground level. New canes will emerge in spring, grow through summer, and fruit from late summer into autumn. There's no need to tie in or select canes during the growing season, though you can provide light support if growth is very vigorous. Use clean, sharp secateurs or loppers for all cuts. Remove any suckers that appear away from the row throughout the year to prevent the patch spreading uncontrollably. Always clear away and bin or burn pruned canes—don't compost them—to reduce the risk of carrying over pests such as raspberry cane midge or diseases like cane blight and spur blight.