The way to find out if they are duds is to examine them. As a general rule, live plants will have live, green cambium under the bark, live buds. Dead ones will be found to have crispy and brownish parts. (Sometimes plants that aren't going to grow will have an intermediate appearance until they finally send up a flag).

It would also depend on how deep the top of the root mass was planted. There should have been some fine white rootlets and pale buds in the root crown prior to planting.

The "sticks" may not put out any new growth; this will come only from the shallowly planted buds of the root crown.

To follow up (with more information)..

I planted the "sticks" at the same height as they were planted at the nursery, and snipped about 4 inches off their tops.

Each had at least one main root when planted, no other signs of growth that I remember, though they certainly may have had some smaller hair-like roots on the main root.

I just returned from the "are-you-alive?" test, in which I scraped off the outer layer of each stick..to reveal that four of the five have bright green layers underneath. One appears to be destined to be just a stick.

I did notice that on one of the sticks a root system of sorts has started off the stick just above ground level, and heading back into the ground..

I had mulched around each stick when planting-- is there any chance there was too heavy of a layer on the surface of the ground that stopped new growth? (grasping at straws here)

Thanks for all your help everyone; I appreciate your sharing!

Sounds like new canes will appear from the crowns shortly. If the old ones were cut below the point of there being buds they won't put out much new growth, if any.

I'm getting new canes from the roots of the raspberries I planted around six weeks ago; so wait a bit. :)

I planted raspberries two years ago and had the same experience. They're flourishing now. Just give them time. They're worth waiting for!

They might have been in cold storage longer than your grapes. Some places keep dormant plants in cold storage until they get put out for sale. I've noticed that my new fruit trees I put in from Raintree are leafing out slower than the ones I bought from local nurseries. I think that might be due to having been kept in cold storage longer... so they seem to take longer to WAKE UP. A theory only, mind you.

I also planted rasberries this year. Most are showing growth, but some are not. I don't give up on plants easy, so I will just leave them for a few months and see what happens. I'd rather wait and give them a chance. They are likely just being slow coming out of dormancy.

Same thing with the bare root roses I bought this spring. My old roses are nearly in full leaf... while my new bare roots barely have any shoots at all yet.

Just give them time.

Just a follow up..

Each of the canes has now some growth on them, either on the cane itself or at the base, but it's very minimal (less than an inch of green growth).

The nursery we purchased them from offered to replace them, until a scratch test revealed they were still alive, prior to the greenery appearing.. they then told us the plants are "just fine".

Should we still be expecting more growth at this stage of the spring? The planst have been in the ground since March 12th.. good, composted soil, plenty of light..

Thanks for all the great advice!

Just keep them watered and give them time. They are surely putting on some root growth first. I noticed that my bare root raspberries had very few roots... and they need those before leaves. I bet by next year you will be wondering what monsters you have planted! Raspberries will really take off!

I planted my bare root raspberries two weeks ago and there are 6 in. shoots on them now. This is why I always make sure that there are signs of life on all of the sticks when I buy them. Sounds as though yours will be ok though a bit slow. Have you tried autumn raspberries? We put in one plant last year and it is very hardy and produced well in it's first year and has come back hardier than ever. They start producing when the regular rasps stop and keep going until frost.

I had the same problem and then i just pulled them and found some nice leafy plants at another nusery ( found them in big pots and plant 1/2 off because it was later in the year ). I emailed the nursery that they were originally from and they are sending me new ones next year.

Autumn raspberries sound great! where do you get them and when do you plant them? Is it too late?

Heather

Two seasons ago I put in two pathetic little sticks. I too thought they were goners. Little green plants by the end of the season as I recall. This year I have a giant (thorny) patch of raspberries full of fruit that will be ready for picking soon. So hang in there - it will probably be next summer before things get exciting.

Hello,

My raspberry 'sticks' were planted where they receive 5 hours of sun. Has anyone had success in the PNW w/ limited sun and raspberries? Growth has been quite underwhelming to date.

Thanks,

Steve