Transplanting soft fruit

agrinnall

I've had an allotment plot for 18 months, and earlier this year planted bare root raspberry canes, a goosberry bush, and three rhubarb crowns. Most seem to be doing OK, I had a small crop of gooseberries, some of the new growth raspberries are fruiting, and two of the rhubarb crowns have sprouted well (one appears to have died).

Due to a combination of factors I am giving up the plot and converting part of my garden to grow fruit and veg. I would like to take the items above with me when I relinquish the plot in October. For all three the guidance seems to be that late winter / early spring is the best time to do this, but I can't wait until then. Is there anything I should start to do now in order to maximise my chances of successful transplants in the autumn?

TonyMMM

Dig them up with a decent rootball of soil, keep them damp whilst transporting them and plant in the new place straightaway - keep them well watered.

tiz

I agree, they'll be fine if you take a ball of soil and replant straight away. I'd leave them as late to move as possible and they'll be winding down for winter anyway. Worth doing any pruning before you move too so they've less leaves to support.

agrinnall

Thanks for the advice. On the pruning, would it be worth cutting the raspberry canes down before digging up (I have 3 summer varieties and 1 autumn)?

Primrose

I think raspberries and other soft fruit bushes are quite resilient Sendai,m sure if you hard prune your raspberry canes now they'll be fine. Just water them in well once they!re transplanted. Try not to do the move on a very hot day if possible to avoid excessive water loss.

I,d also prune back your gooseberry bush now it's fruited too before moving it.