Differences in pruning

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 10

Differences in pruning

Fruit bearing plants respond markedly to attention and this is particularly true with regard to pruning. Pruning is an annual task and is predominantly a winter job. Summer pruning is applied to some fruits but has a specific and limited application. In the case of berry fruit there are many advocates for attending to pruning requirements as soon as the main fruiting season is over. In order to prune effectively it is essential to know the fruiting habits of whatever plants are to be dealt with. Blackcurrants fruit on one-year-old wood and spurs formed on older wood. They are grown on the stool "system, that is growth which arises from a basal region at ground level. The best fruit is borne predominantly on the previous season’s growth which is referred to as one-year-old wood. The objective is to encourage and retain long, strong, well-spaced out new shoots and to remove as much of the older wood as possible each year. The older wood tends to harbour more currant borer caterpillars so removal (and burning) of this material does a double service. Thin, spindly, young growth should be cut out as well. The remaining shoots should not be tipped.

Red and white currants differ from black currants in their fruiting habits and the form of pruning which they receive. The fruit on these currants is produced on two-year-old wood and spurs formed on older wood with the best yields usually being on the two to four-year-old ones. In consequence more care must be taken in dealing with them in order to maintain, if not, boost the yield. This fruiting habit give the red and white currants a comparatively semi-permanent framework of shoots which derive preferably from a low stem (say 200 mm above ground level). There should be a gradual renewal of wood so that there is nothing older than four years. A good bush should contain a balance of older wood to younger wood so that there are shoots at various stages of maturity always present to provide continuity of development and production. All laterals emanating from the leading stems should be spurred back in winter and all main stems should be tipped. Spurs can be encouraged by shortening the side shoots to above five buds as soon as the fruit has been picked and then shortening them back again to two or three in wintertime.