Tops of some raspberry canes wilt and die

13 years ago

This summer probably 5-10% of my raspberry canes wilted and died (just the top 4-6"). I looked it up and the best explanation I found was the raspberry cane borer. The doc I read recommended cutting down effected canes. However, when I finally got to it the canes in question seemed to be recovering (minus the loss of the top 4-6"), so, not having a very large raspberry crop, I decided to see what would happen if I just left them alone. Growth continued and everything seemed fine.

Just now, however, I found the following doc which says that I should have just cut the cane a couple of inches below the point of wilting, burned these tops and that would have taken care of it.

Given that, as the doc describes, as of about July, I've had borer larva living in the the canes, I'm unclear what steps, if any, I can take now. The doc seems to say that the larva will still be in roughly the same area as where they were laid. It sounds like this winter they will begin their journey down to below ground which, presumably, will kill the cane.

Since I can't remember which of the canes were effected, should I, right now, chop off the top 8-10" of every cane? Can I wait until later in the fall when the leaves are brown.

Thanks

JR

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fextension.unh.edu%2Fresources%2Findex.cfm%3Fe%3Dapp.origFile%26origFileName%3D%2Fpubs%2FHGPubs%2Fraspcneb.pdf&rct=j&q=raspberry%20cane%20borer&ei=eguFTMHVLMGblgeFn4mKDg&usg=AFQjCNHmyv9lWPOS8wZra0cgMuaUTGDRnQ&sig2=AoD-ZX2NC2iUzFklyqYCVw&cad=rja

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Comments (4)

ericwi
13 years ago
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.
alan haigh
13 years ago
I've never had cane borers become a major problem either, and I manage stands in quite a few sites without ever promptly removing canes. I manage scores of home and estate orchards and my eyes are focused on the trees, not the canes but the raspberries survive my neglect. I do pay enough attention to see that some borer damage occurs at most every site.
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botemout
Original Author
13 years ago
Wow, 8" of tree leaf mulch! That's a thick blanket. I'll give it a shot. I've mulched them this year with coarse wood chips that the county road crew dropped off at my place. Enough to keep the weeds down but not enough to compost (quickly at least). Sounds like I don't need to worry too much. (Fingers crossed ;-)
ericwi
13 years ago
Every fall I put down 8 inches of shredded tree leaves on our raspberry bed, and I always think, this is too much. There will be about 4 inches in the spring, after the snow has melted, but that is not a real reduction, that is just matting and settling. When I cut down the patch in the fall, typically around November 15, the ground will be bare, there will be no sign of the leaves. I am always amazed to see this, even though I have seen this happen so many times before. The raspberry patch is along a fence, and protected from the wind, so I know that the leaves have not blown away. It has to be the worms, I don't see how bacteria and fungi could work that fast.

Tops of some raspberry canes wilt and die

Comments (4)

ericwi

alan haigh

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botemout
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ericwi

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Tops of some raspberry canes wilt and die

Comments (4)

ericwi

alan haigh

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botemoutOriginal Author

ericwi

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botemout
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