Autumn-fruiting Raspberry

'Joan J' is an autumn-fruiting, easy-to-grow raspberry that bears heavy crops of bright red-pink berries within the first year of planting. It was bred as a development of the more familiar 'Autumn Bliss' and shares many of its characteristics. 'Joan J' is spine-free, sturdy and self-supporting, and is resistant to most problem insects. It has a long fruiting season that starts in August and continues until the first sharp frosts. As with all autumn-fruiting raspberries, all the canes should be cut back to ground level in late winter. For the biggest crops, mulch around the plants each year with well-rotted manure.