Abstract

When canes of the raspberry cvs Glen Clova, Malling Admiral and Malling Orion in a spawn bed were sheltered from wind by a polyethylene mesh screen, cane growth was improved and in the first 2 cvs this led to increased production of first-grade spawn. However, the subsequent performance of planted spawn was not related either to its origin in sheltered or exposed beds, or to its classification as first or second grade material. It is suggested that grading spawn solely on the basis of root quality could improve classification and possibly lead to more uniform cane growth in the first year.