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Fruit & Orchards

Raspberry canes turning brown

11 years ago

My raspberries seem to be afflicted with the disease described below (phytophthora). However, I have quite sandy, well-drained soil. So based on that, a root rot seems unlikely. However, because of the sandy soil I have mulched, and water every day when the plants are fruiting (because I understand that raspberries are shallow-rooted). Do you think thatÃ¯Â¿Â½s the problem? How often should I water raspberries in sandy soil?

Thanks

Tom

RE: Help with raspberry problem- disease or fungus? clip this post email this post what is this?

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Ã¯Â¿Â½ Posted by jean001 z8aPortland, OR (My Page) on

Fri, May 20, 05 at 1:26

Root rot -- by the fungus Phytophthora -- resides in the soil. The telltale symptom: the fruiting stems die.

A second fungus kills raspberry canes also. In this instance, it's a vascular wilt -- by the fungus Verticillium -- and kills the canes in their first year of growth.

So, I'd say that it's the root rot that is killing Roserobin's plants.

And here's the really bad news:

-- Both the above fungi reside in the soil.

-- No spray is helpful against either disease.

-- No soil treatment is available to get rid of either of these fungi.

-- The fungi will remain in the soil for many years.

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Comments (9)

dmtaylor
11 years ago
My raspberries are in sandy soil and I didn't water them at all until the big heat waves of the past ~5 weeks, and they've done splendidly. Once the drought and heat hit for a while, I've been watering them about twice a week and they are still healthy. So I wonder if you've been watering just way too much. They don't need a ton of water. They're much more robust than, say, pumpkins or peas, which start looking really bad if you don't water them at least once a day if not twice a day.
abz5b
11 years ago
Raspberries need significantly less water than most other berries. Every time I overwater them, I have issues dead canes etc....
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Some kind of pest, like a borer killing the canes. Look for holes!
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We've had a patch of everbearing red raspberries for 10 years or so, maybe closer to 15 years. I have lost a few canes to cane borers most years, but because it was only a few canes, I have never bothered to do anything other than cut out the affected canes and compost them. This year, we have had no cane borers, not a one. My guess is that the firefly larvae in the soil are eating the cane borer larvae, but that's only a guess. I mulch our raspberry patch heavily, in the fall, with shredded maple leaves. The leaves always disappear by the following November, I think they are consumed by worms. Since the worms are also food for the firefly larvae, that would explain why I see fireflies in the raspberry patch every summer. Based on my experience, you might be able to discourage the cane borers simply by mulching the raspberry patch in the fall, with 8 inches or so of shredded tree leaves.
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Hi. This forum is for making suggestions to the GW staff. The southern gardening or carolina gardening forums might be a better place for this post.
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glenn_russell
11 years ago
I agree that the issue is likely overwatering. In zone 5, I would be surprised if they needed water more than once a week. -Glenn
abz5b
11 years ago
Yeah I'm in zone 6a. Unless fruiting I water sparingly, which is the exact opposite of my blackberries. Always experience problems if i water more than 1 time per week unless it gets above 90 then 2 times per week.
tvz1
Original Author
11 years ago
How often do you water your blackberries, ABz65b?
babdav
11 years ago
in zone 5 but frequently in the high 90s with a lot of dry wind. I have to water every day or the top inch of soil feels dry. is this too much or to little water? ALSO i have many canes drying up with the leaves turing brown and crunch. Berries are dry and smallish- or they have a few white colored druplets. what could this be!? :)
abz5b
11 years ago
Blackberries I have set up on a drip system and they get watered in the morning 3 times per week when hot 2 times per week when warm then adjust as needed.
berry_bob
11 years ago
I am in zone 5 in se SD and we are real dry , I have to water mine atleast 3 times a week and they are still looking a bit burned up , if you dig a hole here 2 ft deep its going to be bone dry
abz5b
11 years ago
Yeah some parts of the country are experiencing drought. there are several factors. I have bark around mine which retains moisture. I am also in an area of the country that is not experiencing drought. And my bushes are getting older so their leaves/foilage are keeping the sun off the soil. That drip system I have set up is a serious advantage in combination with the bark. which also helps with moisture retention. Just pay attention to your plants a bit and you'll get it down.

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