Fruit-bearing Ages

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 6

Fruit-bearing Ages

Many home gardeners have considerable difficulty in understanding pruning. If there is an understanding of the type of wood on which fruit is produced much of this difficulty can be reduced. It is necessary therefore to be able to recognise these limbs before any attempt is made at the job. As will be seen from the list, there are quite a number- of different types of, or ages of, growth which carry the fruit and the aim in pruning is to produce a balance between this fruiting wood and new growth.

The term “current season’s growth” refers to totally new wood which begins its growth in the spring and extends during the summer; it has not seen a previous winter. “Previous season’s growth” is

growth that is one year old. and refers' to material produced in the previous growing season, and has been retained through th? winter. This list groups some of the more commonly-grown fruit with their corresponding fruiting tendencies.

Fruit born on current season’s growth: Chinese gooseberrys, grape, passion fruit, tree tomato. Fruit born on previous season’s growth only: Blackcurrants, blueberry, loganberry and other hybrid berries, raspberry, peaches and nectarines.

Fruit born oh . previous season’s growth and older: Apricot, cherry, gooseberry, mulberry and Japanese plum. Fruit born on two-year and older wood: Apple, pear, European plum, red and white currants.