Growing delicious, organic, vitamin-rich soft fruit is for the most part fairly undemanding. That said, established soft fruit bushes and canes will amply reward the gardener when pruned during the dormant season. This is a job which is most pleasantly undertaken on a dry, sunny day. Before embarking on this task it pays to have an understanding of the fruiting habits of the different types of fruit being grown.
Pruning Summer Fruiting Raspberries, Blackberries, and Hybrid berries like Tayberries
- These canes produce fruit on wood which is at least one year old.
- Pruning couldn’t be easier. Simply cut out at ground level all the old fruited canes.
- The new canes which have grown up from ground level will carry next summer’s crop.
- Tie these new canes to support wires spacing them about a hand’s width apart.
- Remove all weak and spindly growth as it causes congestion and never produces any worthwhile fruit.
- At the end of winter cut about 15cm off the top of each cane. This removes any growth which may have suffered frost damage.
Pruning Autumn Fruiting Raspberries
- These are even simpler to prune. They produce canes which grow and bear fruit in the same year.
- Simply cut all canes down to ground level at the end of winter.
Pruning Blackcurrants
- Blackcurrants produce the biggest crop of high quality fruit on shoots that grew the previous year.
- Pruning should remove about a third of the oldest, darkest wood.
- Open up the centre of the bushes to improve air flow.
- Aid light admission by removing thin, congested and crossing branches.
Pruning Red and White Currants
- These currants fruit on spurs (short shoots or branches bearing fruit buds) which occur at the base of laterals (side branches).
- Don’t remove the fruited wood each year.
- Main branches which form the skeleton of the bushes are only taken out if they become old, diseased and unfruitful.
- During winter prune to one bud all shoots that grew from the framework branches or spurs in the previous season.
- Remove low branches which would touch the ground when laden with fruit and the job is done.
Pruning Gooseberries
- Gooseberries produce fruit on year-old shoots and older spur systems.
- Established bushes should be pruned to ensure the bushes have an upright habit with an open centre and the branches are well spaced so that air circulation is good and the thorny job of fruit picking is as easy as possible.
- Remove a few of the oldest branches ( about a sixth) in the centre of the bush each year.
- Cut out all growth arising at or near ground level.
- Take side shoots back to 8cm from the main branches and fruiting spurs will result.
Prune Soft Fruit Each Winter for Healthier Canes and Bushes
Annual winter pruning of soft fruit canes and bushes helps maintain the health and vigour of plants. Pruning in accordance with the fruiting habits of the different crops will ensure larger fruit and heavier yields on a regular basis.