Timing and technology for pruning currant and gooseberry bushes in spring, summer and autumn

Under favorable conditions, gooseberries and currants bear fruit for up to 20 years. Proper agricultural practices, including regular pruning and timely replacement of old branches with more productive young shoots, maintain the health and fruiting of shrubs. Without pruning, the growth of shoots slows down, the berries become smaller, and the yield decreases. Consider when to prune gooseberries and currants - in spring or autumn, is it allowed to do it in summer and how to properly perform the procedure.

When to cut currants and gooseberries

Berry bushes are pruned mainly in spring and autumn. Summer pruning is the least common. It is believed that in a leafy state it is impossible to qualitatively inspect the skeleton and cut off the necessary branches.

In the spring the bushes are carefully examined and dead, dry and damaged branches are removed. The main thing is to be in time before the start of sap flow.

Fall - the most favorable time of the year for this procedure. Plants are dormant or preparing for it, skeletal branches are clearly visible, so the risk of cutting off the wrong shoots is minimal.

Pruning currants and gooseberries in spring

Spring pruning of bushes is performed before the start of sap flow and budding - in March - April. They use a sharp pruner with smooth blades to remove overgrowth and shoots. Thick old branches are cut with a garden saw or hacksaw. The instrument is pre-disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or medical alcohol.

The formation cycle of a currant bush is 6 litersno. The first pruning is done after disembarkation. The branch is completely removed, leaving 2-3 developed buds. At the end of the first year of development, 5-6 strong shoots should form on the bush.

Next year cut branches of the second order and leave 4-8 buds on each of them. The tops of the strongest shoots are pinched. Weak, sick, thickened annual shoots are completely removed. In the third year, perennial and strong annual branches are shortened, leaving ⅓ of the length.

After 2-5 years, at the peak of fruiting, 10-15 perennial branches are left on a properly formed bush. In old, but still fruiting shoots, the ends with a weak growth are cut off.

For 6-7 years it is recommended to cut to the base of branches older than 5 years. The procedure is performed gradually over 2-3 years. It is important to wait for strong young shoots to appear. If you cut off all the old branches at the same time, the bush will die. Old branches of black currant are recognized by brown bark, weak growths, up to 10 cm long, underdeveloped buds and dry fruit branches.

In the future, the state of the bush is maintained by cutting according to the standard scheme.... Old and fruiting branches are cut off, leaving young and strong shoots.

Skeletal branches of white and red currants, in contrast to black currants, are more durable. Old branches are removed completely 7-8 years after planting. Weakened at the age of 5-6 years, rejuvenate by pruning on lateral branching.

Most fruit buds form on annual growths, so they cannot be cut off. Otherwise, the quality of the crop next season will decline.

Reference. Many varieties of red and white currants are prone to intense formation of basal shoots. Such bushes need more careful thinning.

Gooseberry varieties Smena short-lived skeletal branches, so it is sheared by analogy with black currant. The more durable varieties Yubileiny and Russian are pruned 7-8 years after planting.

Gooseberries are often used anti-aging and thinning pruning by analogy with the scheme for red currants. Spring is considered the ideal time for shrubs to form. The procedure is performed before bud break or partially transferred to autumn. In the spring, a careful shearing of diseased and damaged branches is carried out, and in the fall, old and thickening branches are removed.

It is not recommended to leave stumps after pruning, as they are an ideal wintering place for pest larvae. Gardeners advise removing branches to the base. In addition, spinning top shoots grow on the stumps, which impede the growth of zero. In thickened gooseberry plantings, damaged, dry and weakened branches are removed.

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Spring pruning contributes to:

• rejuvenation of aging currant and gooseberry bushes;
• the supply of minerals to the ovaries;
• reducing the risk of infection with fungal spores;
• correct formation of young shoots;
• increasing yields.

There is only one drawback: if you perform the procedure during the period of sap flow and the formation of fruit buds, you can partially or completely lose berry bushes.

How to prune in the fall

Autumn is the most favorable and safe period for cutting berry bushes... The buds on them begin to bloom in early spring, when the threat of return frosts is great. In autumn, pruning is carried out without fear and old, damaged, diseased and fertile branches are removed without loss of productivity. During this period, sanitary pruning is often performed.

Benefits of the procedure:

• complete examination of the skeleton of the bush;
• the plant is at rest and tolerates pruning more easily;
• access to all branches;
• the possibility of a combined pruning and harvesting of cuttings for planting in the next season.

Scheme of autumn pruning of the berry:

• damaged, old and broken branches are completely cut off with a sharp instrument;
• remove all thickening branches;
• 5-6 annuals, 4 two-year-olds, 3 three-year-olds, 2-3 four-year-old shoots are left on the bushes.

In total, 20-25 strong branches should remain on the bush. Autumn pruning is suitable for winter-hardy and short shrubs that have the opportunity to spend the frosty months under snow cover.

Summer pruning of currants and gooseberries

Summer pruning is performed to remove underdeveloped branches that take additional nutrition from the plant. Without the necessary minerals, berries grow small or do not appear at all. Summer allowed gooseberry pruning to remove damaged (5 mm from the base) and diseased shoots.

To obtain a high-quality gooseberry harvest, it is recommended to collect some of the berries (when reaching ¼ of the size) Pruning improves the growth and development of the shrub, helps to form its neat shape up to 55-60 cm in diameter.

A gentle gooseberry cut is carried out in mid-July, after fruiting. This will help to get to the berries inside the bush and speed up their ripening due to the access of sunlight.

Important! In August, a more serious pruning is performed - all broken and diseased branches are removed under the base. After this, intensive growth of young shoots begins, which are used for reproduction in the next season.

Pruning currant bushes begin in the year of planting: choose 3-4 strong and healthy shoots, cut them into 2 or 3 buds, the rest are completely removed.

Two-year-old currant pruning is performed at the end of July... The branches are shortened by 2 buds, but not more than 10 cm. The procedure is carried out to form lateral shoots and stimulate the development of underground buds. Additionally, lateral branches that grow horizontally or downward are cut. They interfere with the correct formation of young shoots and fruit buds.

The pruning rules for three-year-old currants correspond to the procedure for two-year-old bushes.With a sharp pruner, cut off young annual shoots and branches growing inward. At the same time, the shoots that thicken the bush are removed.

5-year-old currant pruning is done after harvest... Adult bushes are cut in late July - early August, after the end of fruiting. For this, the following scheme is used:

• annual shoots are cut off, except 3-4 promising ones;
• pinch annual branches by 10-15 cm for better development;
• shorten lateral branches 2–4 years of age with 4 kidneys;
• 5-year-old branches are completely cut at ground level.

It is advisable to combine sanitary, formative and rejuvenating pruning of currants and gooseberries with the aim of parallel harvesting of cuttings for propagation.

Red and white currants have a similar structure of bushes and fruiting. 7-8-year-old branches are considered old for them, and the peak of fruiting occurs at the age of five. Summer pruning of white and red currants is performed at the end of July, after harvest.

It is recommended to follow the following scheme:

• cut off all internal young shoots, shade fruiting branches;
• 2-3-year-old shoots do not touch;
• old and fruiting branches are completely cut off;
• zero shoots growing from the ground are cut or buried in order to obtain cuttings;
• dry, damaged and diseased branches are completely removed.

With summer pruning, they set the direction of growth of the shoots and correctly form the bush. This improves the ripening of the berries.

The disadvantage of the procedure is the likelihood of removing shoots with a high potential for fruiting in the next season.

Conclusion

Pruning berry bushes is one of the most important stages of agricultural technology, helping to maintain the health and fruiting of plants. The procedure is performed in spring, summer or autumn, depending on your goals. In the spring, before the start of sap flow, frozen, diseased and damaged branches are removed. Spring pruning contributes to the rejuvenation of aging bushes, the supply of minerals to the ovaries, a decrease in the risk of infection, and the correct formation of young shoots.

Summer pruning of currants and gooseberries is carried out to remove underdeveloped, broken and diseased branches. In autumn, the procedure is performed after harvest, when the plants are in a dormant period and are more easily damaged. Sanitary pruning is often combined with harvesting cuttings for planting the next season.