Raspberries failing to thrive and grow - Ask Extension
Hi
I have attached pictures of my raspberry bed. These raspberries are in their second season, (planted last spring) and are failing to grow. The...
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Raspberries failing to thrive and grow #867642
Asked May 08, 2024, 5:52 PM EDT
Hi
I have attached pictures of my raspberry bed. These raspberries are in their second season, (planted last spring) and are failing to grow. They put on about a dozen small fruits last year. I amended the soil with compost, and top dressed with wood bark mulch and they are on drip water (daily) in the summer. Some of the leaves are yellowing on the top of the plant, although I fertilized this spring with berry specific fertilizer. We have Jory-Bellpine soil, and I wonder if it is too wet or heavy, even though the soil has been heavily amended. They haven't really shown much growth this spring. I am debating digging them up, and creating a raised bed for them...?
Yamhill County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Blaine,
It looks like a nutrient deficiency and/or pH problem. My first suggestion when a plant fails to thrive, is to get a soil test done, so we know the soil's nutrient status, then we can make some informed decisions. OSU Extension publication, "Analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon" lists the laboratories which they recommend.
Once you choose a soil testing laboratory, you can go to their website for the specifics on how to prepare the sample and how much soil to collect, (typically around 2 cups of soil). For a small additional fee, they will give you fertilizer recommendations.
Once you have that information, and apply the needed nutrients, if in fact any are lacking, and the plants still are doing poorly, we will look for a disease.
Cornell University has a wonderful on-line diagnostic tool for berries. Here is the link to the raspberry page.
It looks like a nutrient deficiency and/or pH problem. My first suggestion when a plant fails to thrive, is to get a soil test done, so we know the soil's nutrient status, then we can make some informed decisions. OSU Extension publication, "Analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon" lists the laboratories which they recommend.
Once you choose a soil testing laboratory, you can go to their website for the specifics on how to prepare the sample and how much soil to collect, (typically around 2 cups of soil). For a small additional fee, they will give you fertilizer recommendations.
Once you have that information, and apply the needed nutrients, if in fact any are lacking, and the plants still are doing poorly, we will look for a disease.
Cornell University has a wonderful on-line diagnostic tool for berries. Here is the link to the raspberry page.
