In the back garden, which now does not get enough sun, I have some raspberry canes I need to transplant. On the Internet I have gotten opposite information. In the Lower Mainland, is it better to transplant the canes in November after pruning the fruiting-canes, or in the spring (which month). Do I cut the remaining canes down to 12cm above ground after transplanting, or should I leave them alone? Thank-you. Learning as I go, Shannon
In this area raspberries are extremely easy to transplant. They are almost an invasive weed because they will quickly spread outside of their planting area unless the roots are confined. Spring or fall will work well, as well as any time during the winter. I've even transplanted them during the summer without much difficulty. During the growing season, any young cane that springs up away from the main crown can be easily transplanted if you can dig it up with some of the roots attached. Dormant canes should be cut back drastically when transplanting them. What you do with the remaining canes depends on whether you plan to keep them or dispose of them. If you plan to keep them, then treat them the same as any bearing canes: keep the new canes and cut off just above the crown the ones that bore fruit this summer. If you're trying to get rid of them, obviously you will have to dig them up with as much of the roots as possible, followed by removal of new shoots that sprout from root fragments.
Thank-you, I will be keeping the raspberry canes, they just need a better location. I am glad to know that the autumn in acceptable, and that I don't have to cut all the canes down to 12cm above ground, that would stop any fruiting the following spring. Thank-you again. Shannon
