Blackcurrant pruning - when, what & how much?

floss2

First year on my allotment, and I have just taken most of the blackcurrants off to be made into jelly or gin.

As I only took on the plot in late January, I have not really pruned any of the fruit bushes properly. However, I have noticed that a lot of the fruits were at the end of branches, and the weight had taken them to rest on the compost under the plants.

How much of this brown growth can I cut back? Can I be radical, as I know they were not pruned last season, and I am not sure how well / whether they were pruned the year before.

I know that they fruit on the older branches rather than new growth, so will be leaving that, but could do with a few pointers please!

TallGirl

I'm a newbie black currant owner I read you cut of the branches that fruited this year so that is what I am going to do.

valk_scot

One third of the bush every year, oldest first. That's the rule of thumb. Immediately after fruiting, or at least before winter time.

The easiest time for you to do the pruning will be at picking time btw. it's a lot easier to pick blackcurrants sitting down on a comfy chair with a branch across your lap! So prune out the older branches as the currants on them come to ripeness and then strip the currants off them.

floss2

valk_scot wrote: »

...The easiest time for you to do the pruning will be at picking time btw. it's a lot easier to pick blackcurrants sitting down on a comfy chair with a branch across your lap! So prune out the older branches as the currants on them come to ripeness and then strip the currants off them.

I guess that you haven't seen my allotment then....no room for a chair, comfy or otherwise!!

Thanks for that - I nopw know what I will be doing this weekend

valk_scot

floss2 wrote: »

I guess that you haven't seen my allotment then....no room for a chair, comfy or otherwise!!

Thanks for that - I nopw know what I will be doing this weekend

No chairs at home either? I usually do this at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and the radio on. I'm not one for making work for myself.

poppysarah

I'm with valk_scot here.

Cut off the branches with berries on and take them somewhere to sit down and deberry.

When you've took all the berries off though trim virtually all the leaves off and stick the branch in a bucket of compost. Add all the other branches you do and then stick this bucket in a quiet shady corner.

Next spring empty out the bucket carefully and pot up any with roots.

Floss

valk_scot wrote: »

No chairs at home either?

Yes, 3 miles away and my car is a small sporty number, not capable of taking much more than a few shopping bags!

Anyway, that's the sort of trick you learn when you've been growing blackcurrants for more than 5 months I guess!

I will remember for next year & get my camping chair out

Soot2006

I'm just jealous that you have fruit already!

... Can I tag a question on -- I have a "new" blackcurrent bush behind my shed. It was cut to the ground two years ago (it was rather large!), then last year was stomped all over to lay slabs, build shed, etc - so no growth -- this year has grown huge behind the shed and looks like lots of fruited branches! Does this bush also need pruning or should I give it a year to grow in size (keep the dogs out from behind the shed!)

splodger_seedswapper

when it comes to fruit bushes - size isn't everything

a small well pruned bush will produce as good crop of berries that are usually sweeter and juicier than berries grown on a big overgrown / unpruned bush (which loses too much enegy trying to feed all of the extra branches)

so as above advice - prune after it's fruited

Jolaaled

When pruning these branches, where do you make the incision??
As near to the ground as possible...or a couple of inches up??

Also, do you need to prune the branches that haven't borne berries??

Thanks all