Purplish-Brown Stems on Raspberry Plants
My raspberries have been great until this year. Some of the stems are turning purplish-brown. The leaves and fruit seem to be drying.
Anthracnose and cane blight can cause the damage you describe. Fortunately all these fungal diseases can all be controlled with proper pruning. Prune out and destroy infected canes to ground level. After the summer harvest is complete, prune out all the canes that bore fruit. Summer pruning will help increase air circulation and reduce disease problems. In late winter thin your raspberries to 5 or 6 plants per foot. Proper pruning will usually control these diseases.
Related
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
Oct. 6, 2026
Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference
(registration is closed)
La Crosse, WI
Oct. 22, 2026
Growing Flavorful Herbs
& Veggies Indoors
Wauwatosa Public Library
Wauwatosa, WI
More information
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS
Book an Appearance
Sign up for Melinda's free newsletter for a chance to win 1 bag of Summit Mosquito Bits
and Summit Sticky Traps
ENTER NOW
