Pruning Everbearing Raspberries

My raspberry patch is on my mind this time of year. This pruning everbearing raspberries video will teach you how to prune everbearing raspberries for both a summer crop and a fall crop (or both!).
We finally had a break in the weather for a couple of days this week. So that gave me a chance to get out in the garden and prune my everbearing raspberries. While I was at it I figured I’d film a pruning everbearing raspberries video to teach all of you how to do this. There are two different methods for pruning everbearing raspberries. The first method I show will get you two crops a year, one in the early summer and the other in the late fall. The second method will only give you one crop in the fall but that crop tends to be larger.
It also covers the difference in everbearing raspberries and traditional raspberries.
This video comes to you from Rick Stone and the blog Stoney Acres. It is part of our ongoing gardening video series called "Grow What you Eat, Eat what you Grow"!
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[@4poststar2023]

This is the best video I've seen to explain raspberry pruning on everberrying bushes! Thank you.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@loganv0410]

This is the best explanation of how primocane-bearing (aka everbearing) canes work and why you prune a certain way!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks!

[@jimmyallen8210]

Thank you. I have not heard this explained so clearly anyplace else.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks

[@kevinmcmahon3827]

Best video I’ve found of this subject

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks, I'm glad it helped.

[@zinkametz164]

Very good explanation, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@heatherniemisavage]

This video was excellent. Your instruction was very clear and helpful. I have everbearing raspberries and was looking to learn how to prune them. Thanks!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad I could help!!

[@jennifereverett6298]

I agree! This is by far the most helpful explanation I've found.

[@velvetlace]

A great teacher kind Sir...I have raspberries that are everbearing and you explained it beautifully...Thank you...Thank you...

[@TheJohnroe]

Couldn't agree more. Thank you.

[@MGMG-88]

This is the BEST ever bearing raspberry pruning video. Thanks!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome!!

[@deannav850]

This was very informative and straight-forward. Thanks. I feel much more confident pruning my everbearing raspberries this year!

[@danielball3132]

Thank you! Very helpful and informative. Much better than 99% of the confused and nonsensical fluff out there.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MichiganWildcat]

Thank you for explaining it in a way I could understand!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're very welcome!!

[@holly_kay5570]

Finally a video that helps me get it! Thank you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome

[@bkershaccount]

you are an excellent teacher. the actual cane was a great addition, also.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@VioletBlu23]

This is great! Thank you.

[@mitchtillison]

I've been confused by other videos - this makes it crystal clear. Thank you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're very welcome!

[@petraschultz7292]

Thank you, thank you. Nice job getting to the point right away, excellent video

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're Welcome, Glad it helped!!!

[@fitforreallife]

Wow! This was the most helpful thing I’ve found to help me with my everbearing raspberries! We moved into a place with these berries and I understand now why I’ve got a huge crop coming up now in autumn and had much less this past summer summer. Thx!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad I could help!!

[@mswyman100]

thank you for the info. I've already pruned mine to the ground. So I guess I'll get only a fall crop which is ok with me as I'd rather have a larger, one time crop.

[@nccherokee1]

Great work. Thanks

[@maritimegardening4887]

I think you have solved my problem! Cutting them down to the ground this November!

[@nereidapr1]

Great video. I only have cranberry but it''s good to know. I grow mainly tropical plants. but I have a few plants like strawberries. Loved and Subbed.

[@catgrrl58]

Fantastic, clear explanation! I now know what to do with my raspberry canes! Many thanks.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome

[@CJ-qj8gq]

Appreciate this so much. Planning on trying some of these in Michigan.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome. Good luck!!

[@alberta9985]

Great video!

[@kepps3537]

Great video -- VERY helpful!! Thank you for taking the time to show this in such detail.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're very welcome!

[@allthingsmaloney5634]

Thank you! I got Encore summer bearing raspberries last year and purchased Heritage everbearing raspberries this year. Learning curve but you made it easy to understand ^_^

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad I could help!

[@johnathankeller1948]

This helped me understand why. Thank you

[@jennifereverett6298]

The only thing I would add is that there are now a few varieties of everbearing blackberries. Otherwise, this is by far the most helpful instruction on this subject that I've found.

[@Zombieslag]

Extremely informative! You've got a new subscriber, I hope you're still making videos like this here in 2021!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I'm still here!! Thanks for the follow

[@kabochaandspice]

THANK YOU for such a clear video! I cut off my joan j canes to the ground and I started panicking. Good to know it's not the end of the world!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Not a big deal as long as they are an everbearing variety.

[@lanathegardener]

Thank you! This was super helpful.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad I could help!

[@Razalipuchong]

Thank q

[@ShilohsBride]

this video was truly helpful. Thank you so much!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

So glad I could help. Let me know if you have any questions. Are you planning on pruning this fall or will you wait till the spring?

[@ShilohsBride]

Now that I've learned how to prune off the ends of my everbearing raspberries. I'll do that. Previously I just left the whole cane until after it had borne again in the spring. It looks so much neater the way you do it.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

It also helps make them a little easier to harvest. After they finish bearing the cane will die and that makes them easy to remove as the fall canes grow and start to bear. Happy Gardening!!

[@lesliecloss2081]

Thanks , great stuff 🌱

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome!

[@RedStorm.]

Great explanation thank you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're very welcome!!

[@beebob1279]

Nice demonstration on the everbearing. You provided the options of a summer and fall crop, or just the fall crop.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@beebob1279]

@@StoneyAcresGardening Big question. I'm planning to put in overbearing raspberries in my yard. I'm preparing a bed for next spring. My question is.... Can I tip root overbearing raspberries like black raspberries and rasberries?

[@juliawitt3813]

Thank you for this video

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're Welcome

[@theresad6990]

Awesome tips. Thanks!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're Welcome!!

[@semievilsquirrel]

Great information! My everbearing raspberry patch is small still, but I was wondering what to trim and what to leave.

[@danacarbone9405]

thanks, great!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome!

[@jessicaellsworth5365]

Thanks for the great video! I have been reading articles and watching videos, but now I finally feel more confident and ready to go prune! I do have one question though. I am in zone 6b. I want to get as many raspberries as possible. So is it better to prune them to have both a summer and fall crop, or do you get more fruit at the fall crop by pruning them all the way to the bottom for just a fall crop?

[@evamehler6236]

Great video! I was searching for a reason my Heritage raspberries stopped producing about 8 years ago. I've transplanted runners off the old plants, but they aren't producing any berries either. I would appreciate any ideas about what to do. Thanks

[@SimplyCanningSharon]

Rick this was very helpful! I have the same berries as you and every year I wonder if I'm doing right by just chopping them down. I'm going to try just trimming off the tops this year and see what happens. But at least I can quit examining stems wondering if some should be left or all cut out. :) Sharing.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thanks Sharon!!

[@SeekAndDestroyTM]

For everbearing pruning - if you don't have any green yet you can look for fruiting buds along the cane to see where you need to prune.

[@gpozdol7912]

Yes it helped a lot, Thank You.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're welcome.

[@CocoD]

Thank you for the informative and concise video, I have a better understanding after I watched your video, unlike the 20+ other videos I watched. How tall should I let my raspberry grow? It Looks like I have two primocane growing on one floricane, should I get rid of 1 primocane or just leave both of them on? Thank you.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I just let my raspberries grow as tall as they want to get. I never do any pruning to prevent growth. This years canes will be dead my mid summer next year any way. I'm not sure I understand your primocane question. Primocanes are first year growth and shouldn't be growing on a floricane. Your Floricane's (second year canes) should all be dying as they finished bearing, you should pretty much have just primocanes this time of year if you really have everbearing plants.

[@jennwaldal7221]

Great video! Thanks! Can you prune everbearing raspberries in colder climates the same way? (Zone 3b)

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

The key would be if those canes are surviving the winter. So really the only way to know is to give it a try and see if your winter temps allow those canes (above ground) to survive. I have a feeling that it will be okay. I have relatives that live in a very sever (high mountain valley) zone 3a and they have ever bearing raspberries that do really well pruned this way.

[@michellehedgcock8924]

Thanks for making this video! I could never understand why I have always had a crop despite always having to cut them all they way back (due to winter die off.) When I bought the raspberries from my local nursery they didn't provide much detail so I had no idea they were ever bearing. I'm same zone as you and never have canes with growth like yours in the spring. So you don't ever have to trellis your raspberries right? Mine have never gotten big enough for me to tie them up to the guide wire we put in right after planting. Now my thornless blackberries are a whole other beast. LOL

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Michelle, It really depends on the variety of Raspberry. Some do need to be trellised. The variety that I grow are Caroline and they do okay without a trellis. I keep meaning to build one but I never seem to get around to it!

[@Sarahsaves07]

This was a great explanation! Thank you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You're very welcome.

[@moviefan62]

Hello. Thanks for the great, informative video. I'm in Chicago and just bought a Baba raspberry plant and two Heritage raspberry plants (all have leaves and are about a foot tall).The Baba is going in a very big planter and I'm planning on putting the Heritages in the ground (or maybe all three in the ground). Will the Baba's be ok in a 20x20x20 planter? But I'm hesitant to put anything in the ground with the birds, squirrels and rabbits. Is there anything (besides fencing and/or netting) to keep them away?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I'm not a big fan of raspberries in containers. They like to spread their roots. It will do okay, but will never really do it's best. Nets and fences are your best solution to keep animal's out. Most of the other "remedies" don't work all that well.

[@adrielzheng4618]

Thanks for the guide. may I ask which of the two pruning methods has more fruit yield？

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I've never really tested that. The early summer crop will be really small. I will say this, we pruned them all to the ground last year and had our best crop ever. But we also added a bunch of compost to the beds to that may have had something to do with it.

[@ngs5554]

Any suggestions for organic pesticides? The leaves on my raspberries and blackberries are being decimated.

[@danacarbone9405]

Thanks for your video I've watched a lot of videos on pruning raspberries, it seems like to get the late summer fall harvest is best for quality berries. So after the first freeze this year if I want just a fall crop NEXT year I should cut everything to the ground this fall is that correct? I just want to be sure before I cut all my berries back to the ground this fall! If I cut all my raspberries back to the ground this fall they will all come up next spring and I should have fall Berry harvest next year is that correct just want to be sure!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes if you have everbering raspberries. It must be everbering. Otherwise you won't get any berries at all.

[@anntachovsky9794]

Loved your simple explanation re: Everbearing Raspberries. Funny to understand that the first harvest is Fall & second harvest is Spring. Any videos or info on how to tie up these plants, so they aren't a mess of bramble branches & harder to find the ends to prune? Thanks!!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Ann, I actually don't trellis or tie my raspberries. Every year I tell myself next year I'm going to get that done and it never seems to happen. LOL :)

[@anntachovsky9794]

Any right/wrong way to do/no do it? My plants keep spreading, so now that I am retired, I want to get a handle on it, so I get better harvests. They are so delicious!!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

To keep them from spreading you need to put a barrier in the soil that is at least 12 inches deep, preferably 18. Look around on Google, there are several trellising ideas that involve a T-post and heavy gauge wire. Those seem to work best.

[@thamaralaredo146]

Thanks so much for this information. Can I just ask the spacing of your plants? Everywhere I read it says at least 3 feet, but yours look like there is less space than that. We are re-planting our canes in a new patch and I want to plant 1-foot apart. Is that too crowded? They are Heritage raspberries. Thanks!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

We started out with about 2 foot spacing, but you are seeing our mature patch. the plants fill in on their own as they spread. After a couple of years all the spacing just fills in. Remember that raspberries are VERY aggressive spreaders so you need to keep them contained or they will take over your garden.

[@cy4330]

Has there been any research done on the behavior of everbearing raspberries planted in evergreen tropical countries that only have a few months of rainy season? Will they fruit all year long? I just started planting everbearing raspberries, prime ark blackberries, Himalayan blackberry, Southern highbush blueberry and tayberry. They have no problem fruiting but I am interested to know if their behavior will change when they adapt to the climate in like South East Asia and therefore need different method of pruning.

[@teresamartinvarela5824]

If I still have very green tips but no buds or flower can I still cut them for a second crop or do you think they will still give me some fruit. My brushes still very green and very high.Thanks. T

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

This pruning is done either in late fall or early spring when the plants are dormant. You shouldn't be pruning now when the plants are actively growing.

[@danacarbone9405]

thank you great video ,,,one question, what type of fertilizer is best for raspberries?

[@coreyhondzinski8097]

I'm new to planting my own raspberries, but have done a lot of research lately. It's going to depend on your soils needs, of course, but most people recommend a simple 10-10-10 fertilizer, and compost. Best if you can mix it in the soil when planting, if not the preferred application method is sidedressing (same goes if your soil is deficient in anything). Direct application to roots or leaves is not recommended.

[@angelsworld1733]

What happens if you cut them 4 inches from the dirt? Will they grow back? Mine didn't grow much, then started wilting. I have them in a above ground garden box, so I think it's a drainage issue. I'm going to drill holes in bottom. In in MI we had a month or so w no rain as well. So probably two issues going. Not sure if mine are everbearing or just reg red raspberries.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

If they are overbearing cutting them back to 4 inches will be okay, they will grow back next year.

[@geandraget]

If you cut them all down to the ground in early spring, then when all the new shoots come up, do you have to thin them out, or just let all of them grow? Thank you!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I just let them all grow. I might cut a few out if they come up really close to each other. But for the most part I just let them do their thing!!

[@kimberlyrawlins3581]

Fabulous video. I finally understand after reading so many confusing articles. You really explained this so clearly, I can’t believe that I thought this was so complicated! Question though- when should I expect to see the new primocanes emerge? I planted bare root Joan J’s and Anne yellows last spring. I’m in zone 5b.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

You will see new canes this spring. We are zone 6b and have had a fairly mild spring. Our are just starting to pop up over the last couple of days. (March 27)

[@kimberlyrawlins3581]

@@StoneyAcresGardening thank you so much! Would you recommend applying mulch to control the weeds around the patch? Im already noticing so many popping up. And if so, should I apply the mulch a certain distance from the canes themselves? I wouldn’t want to smother out new canes from emerging with the mulch layer!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

@@kimberlyrawlins3581 I use compost as a mulch. Works great and feeds the soil too.

[@larabellll]

Hi!! Great video :-) is it too early to prune in spring if my raspberry plants just have buds that haven’t popped yet? There is no green on them but tons and tons of buds!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

That's fine, there really isn't a "too early" time.

[@jodiepugh8529]

I have ever bearing and am not seeing the dead growth just yet this summer, should I see this or will that happen a little later?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

It will happen a bit later. But if those canes are done fruiting then you can just take them out.

[@allanpennington]

Is the highest yield with everbearing varieties the fall crop on the primocanes? It seems I get few and smaller berries the following summer on the floricanes. You mentioned cutting the floricanes to the ground rather than just getting a handful of summer berries. However I find the stiff floricanes add support to the growing new seasons primocanes particularly if it gets very windy as the new growth is very susceptible to snapping. One last question, if the primocane gets too tall and you shorten it, will you still get a fall crop? Will side shoots grow from below the cut during the summer where you will get berries?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes the late summer/fall crop will be much bigger. The June crop is always small as most of the production happened the prior year. I have never pruned longer canes. You are removing fruit potential if you do that. This year we decide to cut all of our plants back (all the floricanes) and we have had the most productive year we have ever had. The patch is healthier than and more productive than I have ever seen it.

[@allanpennington]

@@StoneyAcresGardening I have been thinking of doing just that. My raspberries have been in pots but I put them in the ground over winter, (am in NZ). They were a little weak last summer growth so maybe this spring which is right now for me I’ll cut the floricanes to the ground and let the plant put all its energy into the new growth. I have some other summer fruiting varieties so won’t miss out on berries in summer.

[@visarbrestovci9029]

Hey buddy. From what i know there is a way of getting everbearing raspberries producing in summer and in fall? Have you got any opinion on this, am I wrong?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes, you are right. That's what this video is about. If you use this pruning method you will get 2 crops, mid summer and late summer/fall.

[@andrearutz7093]

This year was my second year with my raspberry crop. I didn't know if they were summer or everbearing when they were given to me. In my last garden I only had summer bearing and would always prune out the fruit bearing canes and thin to the healthiest new ones in early spring. In my new garden I got an early crop from last years canes and then a lot of new canes grew last summer - they were sooooo tall. I assumed they would be this years fruiting canes. And then at the end of the season they formed flowers on the ends and tried to fruit but the season ended before they were able to. Now I'm not sure how to prune them. Shall I cut out the whole cane from the ones that fruited earlier in the season and then just the dead tops of the ones that tried to fruit later?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes you've got it right. The canes that fruited last year should be removed (they will probably be dead anyway), the canes that grew last year will fruit this year.

[@andrearutz7093]

@@StoneyAcresGardening i know to remove the ones that fruited lower on the canes, but what about the ones that tried to fruit on the ends of the 8 ft tall NEW canes?

[@familydinner1]

Wondering why you "wouldn't care" about a summer crop? Are the summer crops not as good as a fall crop? The more crops the better! Just curious. I planted everbearing raspberries this year so I'm excitedly waiting for my first crop!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes the Summer crop is definitely smaller than the fall crop and depending on the size of your patch pruning is a bit of a pain. I know a lot of people in my area who just don't think the summer crop is worth the trouble so they just cut their patch down to the ground in the fall and have one crop per year. For example last year (2018) our patch produced enough berries for one gallon of frozen berries plus a bunch of fresh eating from the summer crop. The second crop produced enough berries for 6 gallons of frozen berries plus all the fresh berries we could eat for 6 weeks. So there was a huge difference in the size of the crop.

[@GirlGoGetYourPearlsSonjaMarieM]

I have a wild Raspberry bush that is tremendously overgrown that I want to groom and cultivate and I have no idea what to do

[@meganjoseph3758]

Will overbearing raspberry suckers that are transplanted in the spring bear fruit in the fall?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Megan, the answer is possible. But if they do bear it will be very little. Transplants usually need a year to get established. The new growth they put up next year will start to produce more.

[@meganjoseph5714]

Thank you!

[@mystiquerose620]

Hi..i have an everbearing raspberry plant that produced fruit during the fall for the first time...now the plant is dormant during our cold winter...when should i prune it?after it bears fruit for the second time in summer?thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Just follow the instructions on the video and trim the plants back to where they stopped bearing last year. You can do this pruning in early spring.

[@mystiquerose620]

@@StoneyAcresGardening great..thank you

[@gingerfield1089]

Do you do any fertilizing in the FaLL???

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I don't fertilize at all. I just put compost down in the fall or very early in the spring.

[@Sonjamarieministries]

I know this might sound silly but how do you know if you have ever bearing raspberries I believe that minor wild raspberries not something that was planted

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

The best way to know is to look up the variety you planted. I guess you could prune as I described in this video and see if you get a summer crop.

[@harveyshot939]

My 5 gallon bucket two year old Heritage plants don't look anything like those. Leaves are much bigger and thorns everywhere. I bought them online last Feb. as two year old plants. They did produce fruit this year 09/21.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Do you know if they are an everbearing variety? If they aren't then you wouldn't prune them this way.

[@harveyshot939]

@@StoneyAcresGardening uh, didn't I say Heritage? Those are everbearing.

[@mystiquerose620]

Hi...can you plz tell me how to take a cutting from a raspberry plant in order to make another plant?also could i use a cutting from a stem that has produced fruit and is dying off as a cutting? Thanks alot

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Cuttings are not needed, you can just move around the starts that come up around the plant. Here's a video on how to do it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5usda2BqMd7bKc

[@mystiquerose620]

I have a question for you plz...why is it better to prune plants at an angle...rather than straight across? Thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

@@mystiquerose620 The angled cuts are supposed to heal better, but honestly I haven't ever worried too much about it.

[@mystiquerose620]

Thanks so much for the explanation! I want to ask you bout gardenia plants..i have one indoors that i overwintered...but the leaves fell off do to lack of sunlight, i pruned them to the woody part about 1 1/2 inches from the soil...do you think the branches will grow back..i dont know if you're familiar with this plant or not?Thanks

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

@@mystiquerose620 Sorry, I can't help with Gardenia's I've never grown them.

[@lindachipman3002]

How and when do you fertilize raspberries

[@coreyhondzinski8097]

Early spring

[@kathybarnes810]

When you say prune in spring how late in spring can you prune. I am in zone 5

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

The earlier the better. We are zone 6 and we did ours 6 weeks ago.

[@kathybarnes810]

@@StoneyAcresGardening I am wondering if it is too late now. Should I just wait until next winter or cut off the dead canes now.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

@@kathybarnes810 go a head and remove the dead canes now. It's never too late to at least get that done.

[@MrWookie21]

Nature is so prodigal ; never sells or buys anything. We should thank & praise God everyday for such blessing.

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

I agree!

[@adiciaperry2257]

should i let my the suckers come up in my bed of my everbearing joan raspberries?

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Yes, that is the new growth that will produce the fruit in the fall.

[@Growyourheirlooms]

Bi-annual? You are saying that raspberries produce twice per year? Raspberries are "Biennial" meaning producing in the second year. Not Bi-annual.

[@gpozdol7912]

They produce twice a year, early summer and fall.

[@Growyourheirlooms]

@@gpozdol7912 Not true. Flora canes produce in the second year. They are Biennial, not bi-annual. They do NOT produce twice per year. He was talking about June bearing being bi-annual, not ever bearing. The everbearing may produce throughout the year, but that's not what he was referencing

[@namysparkle]

Excellent video!

[@StoneyAcresGardening]

Thank you very much!