Rasberries-Absolutely No Produce - Ask Extension
Had wonderful 4-5' high healthy plants, 20 x 30' fenced=in area, 4-7 years established, in previous years obtained 3-5 quarts during summer months. Th...
Knowledgebase
Rasberries-Absolutely No Produce #890688
Asked December 10, 2024, 8:07 PM EST
Had wonderful 4-5' high healthy plants, 20 x 30' fenced=in area, 4-7 years established, in previous years obtained 3-5 quarts during summer months. This past year (2024), only 6-8 individual rasberries picked. Heavy infestation of Asian beetles, which, for the most part, were promptly removed. Fertilized in fall of prior year with granular 10-10-10 and wood ash from fireplace. Sunlight is moderate, not great, but should be adequate. Why no raspberries this past summer? Simply perplexed! Thank you.
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
1 Raspberries need pollination. The extreme heat this summer suppressed pollinators. This would have possibly been agravated by the lack of flower beds that attracted pollinators or by the use of neonicotinoids or other pesticides by you or your neighbors that decreased the number or fertility of pollinators,
2. Nitrogen drives plants to producing leaves rather than flowers. Your use of fertilizer seems potentially too high in nitrogen but I do not know the amount of nitrogen that you applied. A soil test may help. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
1 Raspberries need pollination. The extreme heat this summer suppressed pollinators. This would have possibly been agravated by the lack of flower beds that attracted pollinators or by the use of neonicotinoids or other pesticides by you or your neighbors that decreased the number or fertility of pollinators,
2. Nitrogen drives plants to producing leaves rather than flowers. Your use of fertilizer seems potentially too high in nitrogen but I do not know the amount of nitrogen that you applied. A soil test may help. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
