'Pinching" = 'tipping' and refers to the removal of the growing tip of primocanes in midseason to encourage lateral branching. It is not always necessary or even recommended and depends on the type of raspberries you are growing (summer bearing versus everbearing) and where you are located.

With brand new raspberry starts that are still dormant, it is not something you need to worry about this year. Just get 'em planted and let them establish first. And get back to us with the type of berry and where you are.

Raspberries and blackberries need to be "pinched" only when the cane reaches 3-4' tall. Pinching is literally pinching the top, tender growth off. It sends a message to the plant to produce lateral canes. Each lateral cane should receive the same treatment. This is don't to have more area for fruit production.

Don't concern yourself with fruit production since you've only judt planted. Your raspberries should have pretty slow growth at first - probably for an entire year, they won't do much. Within the second and third years though, you'll be doing everything you can to just keep up! (I planted 10 blackberries last year. Most did nothing and some had leggy growth. This year, canes are shooting out of the ground and growing roughly 6" a day. I've tipped/pinched them and they're starting to grow lateral branches). Start feeding yours every 3rd day, fertilizer of your choice and follow the directions on the box. Less is more with fertilizers, but raspberries and blackberries feed heavily. I hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!

Fertilizing ANYTHING every third day is excessive!! Caning berries are not particularly 'heavy feeders' (really dislike that term - plants "feed" themselves) and certainly do not need the excessive amounts of nutrients fertilizing every 3 days would deliver. A good application of compost or composted manure in fall when the canes are cut back or when new canes are planted in spring is usually more than sufficient but can be supplemented when flowers appear with an organic fertilizer.

"Less IS more with fertilizers" is perfectly true and should be a concept that is strictly adhered to. Fertilize only when you acknowledge a need exists.

Yes, you are correct. I'm not trying to mislead, but cane berries are ok with this regiment. I'm using a "feed" one day, water the next, then a fertilizer on the third, then water, feed, water, fert. And this is only if it isn't raining.

I'm not a professional by any means, but I can show pics of my plants. They react very well to this. I'm also in zone 9a, Deep South, so there's plenty of sun and rich soil.

Always read the labels on your fertilizers and you can use them at half strength, rather than buying feed and fertilizer. I see a difference between feeding and fertilizing. That's why I typed "they feed heavily." I'm only giving advice from experience. And less is more, as I said.

Hi, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this post. Thank you so much for all of the help so far. I am new to this and it seems overwhelming! I am located in west central Nebraska. I have a Logan and a Heritage raspberry plant as well as a few Patriot blueberries. Right now they all look like 2' tall dead sticks and they have been planted for almost a month. I just was not sure if I needed to do something to make them look like they want to be alive or not. Thanks!

Keeping things simple. It wouldn't hurt to post questions on the fruit forum; there's a lot of people that frequent that one with a lot of knowledge! You should be able to contact the nursery from which you received your plants. Most are more than willing to help because it ensures future business!

"I'm using a "feed" one day, water the next, then a fertilizer on the third, then water, feed, water, fert.......... I see a difference between feeding and fertilizing."

I am finding these statements contradictory. Tell us what you mean by a difference between 'fertilizer' and 'feeding'. I don't mean to be confrontational but when helping those new to gardening it is important that correct terminology - the whole point of this thread - is used.

And wybroncos......a single Heritage raspberry plant is not gonna do much for you :-) Depending on the size of your family, 7-10 plants are recommended for fresh eating, more if you want to freeze or make jams.

trbrmc, thank you! When I have a min I will go look at the rest of the forums. Gardengal, thanks! Yes I know one is not a lot but I did not want to spend a lot of money just yet and have things not work out. I am using this year as sort of a trial run so I bought one or two of a few different things to see if I am any good at this. So far I have killed a handful of basil plants and a chocolate mint. Also, we are just renting right now and do not have room for a real garden but we should be moving by the end of the summer so next year I will actually be able to have a real garden if I can learn how to stop killing the plants. Thanks again!

I'm sorry you've found my statement contradictory. By definition and from a legal point of view, feed and fertilizer is the same.

To market things, vendors use confusing terms.

To me, the application of such is where I see a difference and only am using common "loose" gardening terms.

Again, sorry... Didn't mean to confuse. You obviously have much more experience gardening than most.

Plants "feed" themselves - that's what the whole process of photosynthesis is all about. They take oxygen from the air, energy from the sun and combine that with water and nutrients they pull from the soil to create sugars, starches and proteins - the same type of food groups humans consume.

Fertilizers are just nutrient supplements to be used when soil nutrients are depleted or missing. Some fertilizer companies do label fertilizers as "plant food"........usually the ones you want to stay away from :-) All that does is anthropomorphize the situation and lead you to believe that you must somehow provide this "food" to the plants like you were feeding a small child or pet. This is how we get in to situations where people fertilize unnecessarily or too often. The plants don't need it, can't use it and it goes to waste and leaches into groundwater contributing to pollution. For inground gardening, the suggestion is never to fertilize unless you know there is a need.

So I would disagree that feed and fertilizer are the same either by definition or by a legal point of view. There IS a legal definition of 'fertilizer' - the entire industry is regulated and fertilizer labels are legal documents - but there is no legal definition of 'feed'.