[JohnB47]

Hi.

I have two plants - a Winhams Industry and a Leveller. Both were planted out last Autumn and would have given me a fair amount of fruit (and would not have had some branches broken, presumably by heavy birds), if I'd covered them in time!

They both seem to have the same growing habit. Branches grow up from a central stem and arch out so stringy and long that they bend down at the end - some touching the ground. Bowl shaped they are definitely not.

What's the best way to prune these? I might be temped not to prune them until next year (them being fairly young) but the branches seem so long. But then if I shorten them, will I lose the chance of fruit?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Babstreefern]

I left mine for a year or so when I first planted mine, but make sure the branches don't touch each other because as they rub you may introduce any type of disease.  What I also do, when it comes spring, and you start getting the new growth, spray it with pest control for sawfly, and repeat it every couple of months, and also spray with anti-mildew - I lost my crops the last couple of years, but this year, I sprayed them as above, and I got a nice crop of goosegogs

However, if your bushes are fairly bushy, then by all means cut them down in the middle, it lets the air circulate, and if you are worried about your branches touching the soil, again, cut them back so they are a few inches off the ground

[JohnB47]

Thanks for the spraying advice.

It's not that they're bushy, they're more sort of sprawly, spidery, with long branches spreading out. How much should I trim them? Just enough to avoid touching the ground and other branches?

[Yorkie]

Some advice from the RHS here:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=332

[Salmo]

You can do some cutting back now, e.g. branches touching the ground, but you will see what you are doing better if you wait until early Spring when the very first hint of green is in the buds.

Select branches that will make the bush bowl shape. Any at too low an angle cut off. Any in the middle cut off. Any in the wrong place or crossing cut off.

This should leave you with five or six branches. Shorten the main stems, the leaders, by about a quarter. Cut all side branches back leaving just two buds on each. These are the buds that will produce the fruit.

This may seem drastic when you do it but it will pay in the long term.

[sunshineband]

Very succint and to the point advice Salmo --- I shall resuscitate the old bush that is all tangles in the spring.

Thank you 

[Yorkie]

I can understand those instructions, ta Salmo! 

[JohnB47]

Thanks Salmo.

I wonder if my bushes are too young for drastic pruning? I'll try taking some photos to show you their shape. Perhaps tomorrow.

Thanks also Yorkie for the link. I'll have a look at that now.

[alfalfa]

Excellent advice from Salmo. We have ten gooseberry plants and they're getting out of hand, so reading that post has made my mind up. When spring arrives it's time for a trim!