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Pinching out centre growth-is this to be avoided on some plants?

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
in Fruit & veg
Although I have done this for wallflowers for example,
I ask this question in respect of my fledging plum.

It is less than a foot tall, but will "pinching out" at some time be hepful or detrimental? 

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,769
    pinching out makes plants produce side shoots, so I'd not do it anything you wish to attain a " tree " shape. 
    Devon.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
    Quote:
    not do it anything you wish to attain a " tree " shape. 

    Not sure what you are a saying here...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,769
    if you want something to grow tall and  erect , don't pinch out the growing tip, if you want something to be lower and bushier , then pinch out the growing tip
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,413
    Do you want a tree or a Bush? It’s up to you, if you pinch out it will encourage side shoots, if you leave it it will grow into a tree. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
    Thanks for that Hostafan1.

    I've never grown a plum tree before. 

    Certainly I did not want to stop the tree from growing much taller. But, I did not want to end up with a tree with not enough braniches.  

    I am wondering what to do, if anything? Or, maybe leave well alone.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
    P's what are braniches???🙃
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,769
    just keep it watered and fed and it'll form its own braniches when it's ready to. ;)
    Devon.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    When you buy a young, 1 year old, plum tree, they are often a single stem (aka "maiden") so don't do anything to your sapling yet.  When it is old enough, you can follow the pruning guides for young plum trees as can be found on sites like these:
    Or, as Hostafan says, do nothing and it will grow into a tree all by itself. :)


    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
    ok guys I will do as you are advising. The seedling is coming on leaps and bounds.

    I have saved the 2 links about pruning on a document on the PC. :):smiley:
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