The harvest is in: how to prune currants correctly

Growing currants Growing currants in a garden requires constant care and timely treatment. Therefore, many gardeners are interested in how to prune currants after harvesting to ensure larger fruits per bush. Below, we'll cover the entire currant pruning process and subsequent care in detail.

After each harvest, currant bushes must be treated. This process helps the plant develop a proper shape and prevents disease. Properly pruned bushes also help prevent the spread of harmful insects. Therefore, to prevent infestation, be sure to remove all old and excess branches.

Tools and processing options

To prune your bush correctly, we recommend first preparing all your tools. Be sure to check the cutting edges for sharpness, as using a blunt object can damage branches and cause further damage to the bush. Therefore, be sure to sharpen all your tools.

Equally important is the timing and weather conditions during which the pruning is performed. Experienced gardeners recommend pruning on a dry, warm day in early autumn, when the shrub has stopped producing fruit and is beginning to prepare for winter. Late September or mid-October, before severe frosts have set in, is considered an excellent time.

Now, let's look at how to prune currants after harvesting (photos of which can be found below). So, if you have young currant bushes in your garden that haven't yet borne fruit, the procedure won't take long.

In this case, partial pruning of basal shoots is performed, which are essentially unnecessary. Typically, no more than four strong shoots are left on young currant bushes, which allow the plant to develop its proper shape.

Pruning an adult bush Pruning is usually done every fall, starting at 5 years of age. In this case, all dry and damaged branches are removed. Usually, too many old shoots only weaken the plant and reduce its yield, so they must be removed.

Another compelling reason to prune old branches is that they can harbor harmful insects or pathogenic bacteria. As a result, over time, the entire bush may become diseased.

So, when starting the process of removing old shoots on a mature bush, first carefully inspect it. Any branches with brown bark should be removed, but green shoots should be left to form a healthy bush.

It is recommended to remove all branches with weak growth, poorly developed buds, or visible symptoms of disease. This will help keep the currant bush healthy and in good condition.

Branches for urgent removal

There's a common belief among gardeners that the lower branches of a fruiting bush must be pruned. This is because they reach the ground and can harbor insect pests, which will gradually infest the entire bush. Furthermore, fruit from these shoots is unsuitable for eating, as they spoil more quickly when in contact with the soil.

There's a whole list outlining the main signs of branches requiring urgent removal, so let's take a look:

• shoots that disrupt the normal development and growth of the bush;
• irregularly shaped and crooked branches;
• branches that are close to fruit-bearing shoots and that shed fruit in strong winds;
• branches that damage young shoots.

A step-by-step description of pruning a currant bush

There are two options for pruning a fruiting plant. But today we'll talk about how to prune currants after harvesting, in the fall. The procedure consists of several stages that must be completed in the following sequence:

• First, trim back all the branches at the edges by about a quarter. As a result, your bush should take on the appearance of a wide bowl;
• Next, we must thin out the crown, removing all excess leaves that block the sun's rays;
• If the primary pruning of a bush is carried out, it is necessary to carefully examine all branches that will not bear fruit and remove only weak ones or those with visible damage;
• Don't forget that after pruning, all stumps must be treated with a special solution. After all, they are the first to be infested by insect pests.

In conclusion, it is worth noting the most important thing:

1. Every fall, remove all excess branches from the bush, leaving only the shoots that will bear fruit that year. After several years of pruning, the number of healthy branches should be at least 20.
2. Once the plant reaches 8 years of age, remove all branches that appeared in the first year of planting. Additionally, prune off any diseased, old, or weak shoots.
3. After pruning your currant bushes, be sure to fertilize them. Manure is excellent for this purpose; sprinkle it under the bush and then gently mix it into the soil.
4. In addition to pruning currant bushes in the fall, complete removal of foliage is performed. Why is this necessary? Because fallen leaves begin to rot and can attract pests.

In conclusion of the article we would like to add that correctly processed currant bush, not only helps you grow a healthy plant, but also increases the yield of large fruits each year. As a result, the time spent on pre-harvest treatment pays off handsomely. Now, we suggest watching a video on how to prune currants after harvest, which clearly shows the entire process and the final appearance of the bush.