summer pruning gooseberries?

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sunshineband

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summer pruning gooseberries?
« on: June 17, 2011, 14:52 »
My bushes are now in their second year and we have had some fuit (hurray  :D ) and there are lots of long sappy stems now growing.

I know you are supposed to 'keep the middle of the bush open' but  which bits do you cut off when please?
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mumofstig

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Re: summer pruning gooseberries?
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2011, 16:59 »
BBC web site says that sort of pruning is done in winter, look

here

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sunshineband

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Re: summer pruning gooseberries?
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2011, 17:52 »
Oh yes I got that wrong didn't I? Summer pruning is just trimming the outer branches a bit.

I blame my weakened state  :lol: :lol:

Thanks MoS  :) :)

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Salmo

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Re: summer pruning gooseberries?
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2011, 18:56 »
You got it right. Young bushes can produce a great deal of growth in early Summer which is best reduced a little so that more air and sun gets in to help the fruit and wood  to ripen.

Leave any branches you want to make leaders to get the bush bigger. Cut some of the new growth back to about 4 inches, especially in the centre of the plant.  Now is a good time.

Main pruning is in the Winter when leaders are tipped by about a quarter and all side shoots are cut back to 2 buds. In young bushes there will probably be several branches that are growing in the wrong place. Be ruthless and remove them. Keep in mind that your aim in an open bush with a wine glass shape.

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sunshineband

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Re: summer pruning gooseberries?
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2011, 19:01 »
As you said Salmo, absolutely masses of growth all in a tangle in the middle, and I am concerned that if I leave it it'll just get worse and then I won't be able to pick next year's fruit without serious laceration  :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the instructions. I'll get to it as soon as I can get down to the plot again --- might have to get out the old canoe if this rain keeps up   :wacko:


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