Doubled raspberries - is this odd?

[Storming Norman]

Hi All,

This Feb I planted some 'Belle de Malicorne' raspberries in the new half plot and they have been very good - rather vigorous and the fruit is really large and very tasty. Its been fruiting fine since July but suddenly they are acting very odd - is there something wrong?

All the ripe fruit has suddenly become double cored and are basically very wide fat fruit or two fruits growing into each other as one. It's not just one or two but every fruit being produced now.

Obviously not a big issue but something I've not seen or heard of before - any ideas why? Have I done something or missed something or is it just a weird variety that does that?

It has suckered generously so if you fancy a spare cane or two to try and grow your own odd fruit, then send me a PM to discuss. I've started throwing them away and suddenly thought that is possibly silly.

[wellie]

Storming,
You and me both... but mine are doing it from the 'Autumn Bliss' variety.

I'm not unduly worried, because the canes are producing really productively, but it does kind of pose a question, and I too would love to know the reason, so thank you for asking, and I hope that we can both get a satisfactory answer from someone much more knowledgeable than ourselves (!) X

[Jeanied]

The phenomenon you describe is probably an occurrence of fasciation. I haven't turned up any evidence that rasps are prone to this using a quick google search. Fasciation is caused by a physiological factor such as damage to the bud. Prune out the affected bits (well, you do this with rasps anyway) and hopefully all will return to normal next year.

[binley100]

Some of my Cost. F toms did that ........weird in a fascinating kind of way

[ConfusedRhubarb]

My Polka did this in Oct/Nov too, but not earlier - I decided it was frost making the core of the berry split, but not actually stop growing.