1219 – Diagnosing Raspberry Problems There are several factors that can cause little or no fruit production on established raspberry plants. One that everyone thinks of is improper pruning â removing canes annually on summer-bearing (floricane) types that only produce on canes during their second year of existence. Note that you should prune fall-bearing (primocane) types annuallyâin their first year of existenceâafter harvest in the fall.

Viruses are perhaps a more common reason for l ack of production. A raspberry planting is productive for about ten years and yields best in the first five years after planting. Aphids introduce various viruses, which accumulate in a plant over time. These viruses produce no obvious mosaic or visible plant symptoms. Remove plantings after ten years or when they begin to yield poorly and make a new planting, preferably in new soil. Obtain virus-free planting stock from reputable nurseries. Donât plant donated rooted suckers from another gardener because they might be virus-riddled. Poor-quality fruit can also be due to viruses such as Crumble-berry virus which causes exactly what its name implies.

Short plants that fail to thrive and produce poorly can be from several causes.
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