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Rasberry Blooms bu no fruit #466890

Asked July 01, 2018, 4:47 PM EDT

My raspberries blooms beautifully but no berries begin to grow after blooming. I waited to 6 weeks and now all the blooms are dried.

Lake County California

Expert Response

Hi and thanks for contacting Ask an Expert.  
Your plants look pretty good. Since raspberries are self-pollinating, you do not need another plant. With another variety for cross pollination, you may find better fruit set.  However even with the self pollination, they should have adequate insect pollinators. Consider that each small drop of fluid on a berry needs to be pollinated in order to develop. Even if you do have insect pollinators there are reasons that they may not visit the flowers.
The temperature could be below 55 degrees which keeps bees from flying.  Or the temperature could be too high above 85 degrees and the pollen grain does not germinate.  Winds could keep the bees from flying too.
Did it rain during blossom time?  Do you have other plants that flowered at the same time?  Raspberries do produce nectar but bees could be more attracted to other flowers.  And, insecticidal sprays will kill the pollinators - does not have to be on the plants.  
Generally speaking the majority of pollination comes from pollinators.  There are many pollinators from honey bees and bumble bees to hover flies and beetles.  These insects play important roles in pollination.  
Did any of the things I mentioned happen during blossom time?  
The Question Asker Replied July 01, 2018, 6:49 PM EDT
I seemed to have a good supply of bees and other pollinating insects. I do not use any insecticides. There are other plants around the raspberries but we're not blooming at the same time. I was kind of wondering if I purchased an odd strain of raspberries. The label said Indian summers but I could not find any information on them on the web.
The Question Asker Replied July 09, 2018, 11:26 AM EDT

Thanks for sending the additional information. Indian summer is listed as an ever-bearing raspberry meaning it has two bloom times spring and fall. However, most of the info that I found on this variety states it is Fall bearing.  
I am guessing that the plant is new and it may take a year for it to start bearing fruit. That said, you could add some phosphorus now (that's the middle number on a fertilizer bag) to improve your blooms for a possible fall batch of berries. The three numbers on the bag are always in the same order, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Make sure the first number is low. You don't want more green leaves that the nitrogen will produce. You want blooms that the phosphorus will help create. Potassium helps with the metabolism of the plant. Look for organic fertilizer that has OMRI on the front of the package. That's a sign that it has been tested and found to adhere to the organic rules.  Always follow the directions on the package.
Great, no pesticides. If you have any disease or pest issues, please write back and we can assist you with written information on bio-controls or organic fungicides.
You may need some patience with this plant. Hopefully it blooms and sets fruit this fall.  
For next spring leave the strongest canes and fertilize early in the spring. Your plant should set blooms for a spring harvest. Remove damaged or dead canes. When looking for info on the web try: Indian summer raspberry site:.edu. That will give you information from universities instead of random garden information. The site:.edu should be typed exactly as shown. Good luck hope the raspberry harvest is tasty this fall.

The Question Asker Replied July 09, 2018, 1:14 PM EDT

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