Fruit · pruning calendar
When to prune raspberries
Summer-bearing raspberries: cut out canes that fruited right after harvest, then thin in early spring. Fall-bearing raspberries: cut all canes to the ground in late winter for one large fall crop.
Summer-bearing
How to tell: Fruits in early summer on canes that grew last year.
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Prune now | September: Prune now | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Prune now | August: Prune now | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Prune now | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Prune now | July: Prune now | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Canes are growing or fruiting. Leave them, and prune after harvest or in early spring.
- Prune now Before growth starts: thin to the strongest canes and cut off dead tips.
- Prune now Harvest is done. Cut the canes that fruited down to the ground.
How to cut: After harvest, cut fruited canes at ground level. In spring, keep the strongest canes and cut off the dead tips.
Fall-bearing (everbearing)
How to tell: Fruits in late summer and fall on canes that grew this year.
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Don’t prune now | June: Don’t prune now | July: Don’t prune now | August: Don’t prune now | September: Don’t prune now | October: Don’t prune now | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Don’t prune now | June: Don’t prune now | July: Don’t prune now | August: Don’t prune now | September: Don’t prune now | October: Don’t prune now | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Prune now | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Don’t prune now | May: Don’t prune now | June: Don’t prune now | July: Don’t prune now | August: Don’t prune now | September: Don’t prune now | October: Don’t prune now | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait You can mow after harvest ends, but late winter is the standard time.
- Prune now Before growth starts, cut every cane to the ground for one big fall crop.
- Don’t prune now This year’s canes are growing the fall crop. Cutting now removes it.
How to cut: Mow or cut all canes to the ground. For an extra early-summer crop, prune them like summer-bearing canes instead.
I’m not sure
How to tell: Fruit in late summer or fall on this year’s new canes = fall-bearing. Fruit in early summer on canes that grew last year = summer-bearing.
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Prune now | September: Prune now | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Prune now | August: Prune now | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Prune now | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Prune now | July: Prune now | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Leave growing canes alone until you see when they fruit.
- Prune now Before growth starts: thin to the strongest canes and cut off dead tips. That’s safe for both types.
- Prune now Cut out only canes that have finished fruiting. That’s safe for both types.
How to cut: Prune them like summer-bearing raspberries for now. It works for both types, and fall-bearers will give you two crops.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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