The autumn-fruiting Joan J raspberries have been fabulous; they fruited from July to November.
I do need to sit down and explain July is a bit too early and they are stealing Summer Cascade’s thunder.
Taste-wise they are my favourite raspberry with just the right mix of sweet and sharp.
I also grew Autumn Gold but the flavour never went above OK and the 10 canes were more about the novelty of yellow raspberries.
When I first set up the raspberry beds, I knew I only wanted a row of 10 Joan J’s, they are incredibly productive and with just me and the family next door, that is sufficient to keep us supplied. However, there was a mix-up with the ordering or delivery and I ended up with 2 x 10 Joan J’s. It seemed a shame to not use them, so I created another bed – and they rewarded me with at least twice if not three times as many fruits as I could use and give away.
I’ve taken out the Autumn Gold, if after three years I haven’t acquired a taste for them it’s unlikely I ever will.
I’ve also taken out the second row of Joan J, but I’ve replanted five where AG resided and put in some proper supports – who said autumn raspberries don’t need support?
The space created meant that I could finally re-home the two fruit trees lifted from Park Road and kept in pots in the home garden. Hopefully, they will appreciate the opportunity to spread their roots. I now have an apple, Greensleeves and a pear, Red Sensation trained in a cordon-esque fashion.
I also pruned and tied-in the new canes on Summer Cascade.
While I was on a shifting and lifting roll, I moved the peach trees back into the polytunnel. I hope this year I was early enough to avoid leaf curl and late enough for the red spider mites to have been exterminated.
The only other winter job still outstanding is to empty and turn the compost bins, which are currently full with lots of annual weeds – the result of the last compost mulch. Does that qualify as green manure?
Allotment Life 
Beautiful berries!