When should raspberry canes be pruned?
Raspberry, grown from Rubus idaeus and related cultivars, has perennial roots but canes with a different life cycle. Its receptacle remains on the plant when picked, leaving a hollow center, unlike many blackberries.
Summer-bearing and autumn-bearing types
Summer-bearing cultivars generally fruit on second-year canes, which then decline. Autumn-bearing types can fruit on the upper portion of first-year canes. Cutting every cane at the same time can therefore remove a summer crop. Pruning should follow the cultivar's fruiting habit. Trellises organize growth and improve access and airflow.
Site, watering, and harvest
Provide sun or suitable light shade, organic matter, and drainage. Mulch can reduce drying without keeping stems constantly wet. Overcrowded canes complicate harvest and favor disease. Pick soft fruit when it releases readily, and cool promptly. Manage root suckers spreading beyond the bed. Local cultivar and disease information is more useful than a universal pruning calendar.