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Posted by CLAIRE (U14473156) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
Hi all! I was just wondering whether I have pruned my blackcurrant tree right...when I planted it, it had two thick twigs with green leafy stems growing off it, which i removed...do I still have to cut down the thick twigs?
thanks,
claire
Hi Claire, there's a general rule of thumb I use when pruning blackcurrants. Count the number of stems, divide by 4 and that's the number to prune out. So if you've only got two I'd let the shoots grow this year, then if memory serves me right that's the growth that'll bear fruit next summer. After picking, prune, preferably removing the oldest wood.
Cheers, D
I believe that you aim eventually to have a good mixture of ages of branches. Take out dead, diseased, dying and crossing branches and try to open up the centre of the bush to allow air and light in.
I don't think you are supposed to prune young bushes very heavily, but I'm prepared to be corrected on that.
K
Last spring I dug up two ancient blackcurrant bushes, at least 40 years old, and stuck some of the branches into the ground. They took fine, but some have fruit on them and some don't. Do I carry on for next year with those without fruit, or do I ditch them and think myself lucky that the others are OK? Any advice welcome.
Hi Collperson,
I'd persevere for another year to allow the new growth to mature a bit. Don't prune until you've got about 4 strong stems then cut 1 in 4 back in the autumn.
I wouldn't have let them flower the first year, so that they put all their energy into getting a good root and stem system going. The non-fruiting ones will probably do better than the fruiting ones next year.
, in reply to message 4.
Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Thursday, 20th May 2010
The best time to prune is when you pick the fruit.
Cut off the branches with the fruit on, which makes it easier to pick, and leave the new growth that will bear fruit the following year.
Thanks very much for all the advice. I shall cut off the flowers and fruit off the little bushes this year, and it will save netting them.
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