Pruning fruit bushes

pclark42

Well today I did quite a bit of clearing up in the garden, as you may know, I had a mishap with the old eye, so that put paid to quite a lot of the Summer and beginning of Autumn, so today I got rid of a million weeds, I found some stray pea plants growing in one plot, so I put them into cells in the tunnel, then I have put broad beans and peas in, onions and coriander are indoors. So a couple of questions, I have a Gooseberry bush, blackcurrant, and blueberry, should I prune them right back? as you will also see I have a grapevine in it's first year, there are two stems, one is tall and strong, but the other to the picture is woody and some has broken off, what's best to do, leave it? or cut back. Thanks, and my eye is a lot better.

pansyface

Hello, I can't help with the vine as I’ve never grown one and I’m a blueberry virgin myself, but I can offer some help with the gooseberries and blackcurrants.

I can’t see the plants in your photos but I assume that they are of a reasonable size and age, not simple sticks.

Here are two pages of a book I recommend you buy. Long out of print but available online if you look out for a copy.

It’s by Harry Baker and it’s called Growing Fruit.

Here you go.

tuikowhai34

@pansyface  Hi - I really appreciated these pictures and guidance for pruning.   I have 2 red currant bushes about 9 years old and one gooseberry bush which is 2 years old.  Neither produced fruit this year although the red currants have been producing the previous years.  (A lot of olive trees in this area haven't produced either, it may be something to do with "one of those years" !)  However, I have a question.  Being in a mild climate, the leaves haven't totally dropped off, so I guess it would probably be best to prune them in January.  (As I do for the grapevines and the roses get a snip too!)  What are your thoughts?
Tui

pansyface

No such luxury round here (at least not until climate change began to show itself).

I’d just go on and ignore the leaves. I take it they will eventually drop off and that the plant is essentially dormant, but just a bit dopey.

Red currants (and white currants) are pruned the same as gooseberries, strangely, and not like blackcurrants.

Funny old world.

tuikowhai34

Hello @pclark42    My father-in-law came yesterday to prune my table grapevines.  (He has finished pruning his vineyards early this year so is turning around in circles!)  Here are a few photos if this will help with the pruning of your vine.  

He cuts off the dead wood and keeps the new growth.  Leaves 2 "eyes" on one or two shorter branches and lops the rest right off leaving one longer branch to  be tied to the wire.  My muscat grapevine which didn't do too well this summer, he has done a descending prune as you can see with the pretty pink string!  I hope this helps.

Obelixx

The RHS offers this advice on grape pruning - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=284 

We grew loads of blackcurrants in our last garden and pruned them as we harvested - cut off the fruited stem and pick at ease sat in a chair - so they always renewed themselves.  Bit too hot for them to do well here but I'm working on it.

I find gooseberries so prickly it's best to grow them as cordons  for easier picking - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=332 Not keen on redcurrants and haven't tried white.

pclark42

Would it be wise to use Horse manure on my vine during the winter, also on the fruit bushes, it's always worked on my late Fathers roses.

Liriodendron

Re blueberries:  they bear most of their fruit on wood grown the previous year, like blackcurrants, so if you have an established bush you could remove one or two of the oldest branches, in winter.  Young blueberry bushes don't need pruning, though if they're a funny shape you can do a little snipping to shorten an over-long branch, for instance.

tuikowhai34

@pclark42  The vines are dormant during winter, so manure wouldn't do much, but it wouldn't hurt to give them a feed late winter.  Personally, I don't.   However, to prevent odium - a splash of sulphur powder when they start to bud in the spring and then another dusting when the vine comes into flower.  (Early morning, no wind or humidity).  I expect you can purchase sulphur in powder form from your garden centre.
Good luck.
Tui   

tuikowhai34

PS @pclark42  You could cut the weaker branch back to 2 "eyes" and leave the stronger one at about 5/6 "eyes" - if that helps.

NewBoy2

I was given 2 "fruit bushes " about 2 years ago and I planted them in the back garden since when they have done nothing.

Same height , same greenery in spring and no fruit.

I have pruned the dead wood and given them an open aspect.

I haven't fed the soil since i moved in 18 years ago.

I think one is  a white berry but dont know about the other

They just sit there

Any tips please.