Rasberry bushs

[hitthebricks]

A few years ago a neighbor gave me some bushes that I planted, had a small crop of berrys that summer and new canes grew. That winter something ate the new canes and left the old ones and they were dead now anyways. This summer a bumper crop of new canes came up but no berrys were produced. I'm thinking the berrys only grow on second year canes and am I supposed to prune them at all or do anything to them in the fall? What would eat the canes and how do I stop them? thanks HTB

[bigdog]

You are right, berries come on the second year canes. Rabbits will eat them. Should not have to prune the new growth, just remove the old stalks after they bear fruit.

[hitthebricks]

The cains where 3-4' tall at the time but I do have a ton of rabbits in the area, I guess its time to thin the herd. thanks HTB

[Moose]

I also recieved 8 small bushes last year. I had a small crop this spring but now I have a ton of berries on the bushes. Is this normal to get 2 crops of berries a year? Also can I cut the bushes back to about a foot high at the end of the season? They are taking over my garden

[bigdog]

Some varieties bear once and others are "everbearing" and bear more than once a season. You can cut back the canes that produced but should not cut down the new growth.