November 17, 2025

Tackling Problem Areas, Pruning Raspberries & Why Bare-Root Fruit Trees Save You Money — Episode 632

28 minutes

Welcome to this week’s blog post accompanying Episode 632 of The Veg Grower Podcast. In this episode, Richard shares what’s been happening on the allotment and in the kitchen garden during mid-November, tackles a few tricky areas, takes us through pruning summer raspberries, and explains why bare-root fruit trees can save you a fortune.

Allotment Update – Tackling problem areas

After a very wet Saturday, the weather dried up enough for a productive session on the allotment. Mid-November brings a noticeable shift: fewer people around, shorter days, and trees only now beginning to drop their leaves thanks to the mild autumn.

Tackling Problem Areas

Richard focuses on a few tricky spots this week:

The top boundary alongside an abandoned neighbouring plot, where brambles and tall weeds always creep across. Only so much can be done until the plot is re-let, but winter tidying keeps it under control.

The asparagus bed, now fully died back. Richard:

Cleared weeds around the crowns

Added homemade compost

Layered on seaweed from the local beach (with permission)

Finished with straw from the potato beds
All to give the asparagus and rhubarb a strong start into spring.

Under the gooseberry bushes, where thick bramble growth has taken hold. After cutting them back to the base:

A few low gooseberry branches were removed for access

Some bramble roots were dug out

The plan now is regular hoeing to stay on top of regrowth
It’s part of a longer-term approach to improve the area while keeping things mostly no-dig.

Kitchen Garden Update – Pruning raspberries

Back home, the focus is on pruning summer raspberries.

Pruning Summer Raspberries

Summer-fruiting raspberries fruit on second-year canes. So the job now is to:

Cut the older, brown canes at ground level

Keep the younger, greener first-year stems for next year’s crop

Richard uses a system where one side of the raspberry bed is first-year growth and the other is second-year, making pruning simple and repeatable.

Autumn Raspberries

The autumn raspberries are still fruiting and even flowering, so they’ll be left until winter before being cut down.

In the Greenhouse

Things are still thriving:

Tomatoes have now been cleared

Habaneros, chillies, and aubergines are still fruiting

Strawberry plants, citrus, grape and peach trees are now sheltered inside

The Autopot system has performed brilliantly again

Planning ahead for sowing chillies and aubergines in December/January to make the most of the long season

Recipe of the Week: Habanero Honey Hot Sauce

With so many chillies still producing, Richard shares a beautifully balanced homemade hot sauce. It works with any type of chilli and stores well in the fridge.

The full recipe is available on the website.

The Podding Shed: Bare-Root Fruit Trees

It’s the perfect season for bare-root fruit trees — usually available from November to February — and they’re one of the best ways to save money when expanding your fruit patch.

Why Choose Bare-Root?

Often less than half the price of potted trees

Much easier to transport

Establish extremely well when planted while dormant

Ideal for gardeners on a budget

Looking After Them

Soak roots for 24 hours before planting

If you can’t plant immediately, pot temporarily

Get them into the ground while the soil is still warm

Come spring, they bounce into life with fresh growth

Richard also mentions his chosen tree for the year — a Cornish Gold pear, grown especially for juicing.

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