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Caroline raspberry plants in pots, what to prune?

9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago

Hello, these are my 5 potted Caroline raspberry plants. They have been in the garage all winter in the dark. As you can see in the pictures, there are brand new tiny stalks coming up from the dirt, and there are also tiny buds growing on some of the thick stalks that have bark.

1) Can someone please tell me what to cut if this needs to be done?

2) What does this do for the plant?

3) When should I cut?

4) When should I put these pots back in the sun? I believe I am in zone (7a), Suffolk, Long Island, NY.

5) I believe I have read that a 10-10-10 fertilizer is adequate, is that correct? When should I apply and how often?

Comments (12)

  • 9 years ago

    There's nothing on those to cut. They are very etiolated and light deprived and need all their foliage to recover. Get them out into the light outside in a sheltered spot until they are hardened off enough to go into the sun.

  • 9 years ago
    Is this normal, or did I do something wrong?

    What exactly do you mean by "hardened off enough"? Are you talking about waiting for the new stalks to grow bark?

    I assume the new stalks will die if taken into the sun now?
  • 9 years ago

    To be honest, they didn't need to be taken into your garage for the winter. They would have done just fine outside in the pots and you wouldn't be dealing with weak, light depraved sprouts right now.

    Hardening off means that you take a tender plant and gradually expose it to outdoor conditions. If you put your plants in full sun right now you will burn the leaves. If you leave them in wind too long the leaves can dry out. So you need to acclimate them slowly.

    Rodney

  • 9 years ago

    Don't cut anything..

  • 9 years ago

    No, it's not normal. As Rodney explained, raspberries don't need to come inside in the winter. That's why you have that pale straggly growth. They were too warm so they tried to grow. But they didn't have enough light ergo pale thin stems. Take them outside for an hour or so then increase the time outdoors each day until they are out there all day and all night. The leaves will green up and the stems will become more robust. Don't cut anything off. They can't afford to lose any food making machines ie leaves.

  • 9 years ago
    Ok thank you everyone for the advice.

    @ Floral, I just wanted be clear that the plants were in an "unheated" garage all winter in case this changes anything. I see that you had stated that the plants were "too warm".
  • 9 years ago

    They must still have been warmer than outside because the plants started trying to grow. If stored in a dark place they need to be completely dormant or they end up like yours have. This is a plant which can cope with, and indeed requires, low temperatures in its dormant state. Lower than the mid 40s.

  • 9 years ago
    Hey everyone. I had them on the porch for a week not in direct sunlight until they started looking better. I put them in the sun a few days ago all day and they look fully revived. Thanks everyone for your help.

    Can someone please tell me how and when to fertilized? How often? I heard a 10-10-10?
  • 9 years ago

    Well done. Any chance of a new photo to encourage us?

    Sorry I can't help with fertiliser question. I don't grow in containers and never fertilise anything.

  • 9 years ago
    Absolutely. I meant to take some. I will report back.
  • 9 years ago

    Here they are! Now that they seem to be on their way, one of my original questions was if I should prune the old cane. I have read that this is good to do. I assume it is the cane that is thickest with no green new leaves growing. When do you think is a good time to do this?

  • 9 years ago

    Those look much happier. The old cane is completely dead so it doesn't matter when you cut it out.