Cutting blackberriesis a basic agrotechnical operation which determines the size and quality of the obtained crops. The purpose of blackberry cutting is to provide plants with optimal access to light, airing and, most importantly, their constant rejuvenation. Both the technique and theblackberry cutting dateshould be adapted to the variety we have in the garden. Seehow and when to prune thornless blackberryso that plants grow he althy and give a large yield of tasty fruit!
How and when to trim a thornless bramble?
Thornless blackberry grows in two stages: it grows in the first year, and bears fruit in the second year.The method of cutting blackberry bushesdepends on which shoots the plant blooms on and then bears fruit. In order for the blackberry fruit bushes to grow well and bear fruit abundantly, they should be properly trimmed.
Note!Cut the blackberries with a sharp pruner. Before we start cutting, we should check the condition of our cutting tools. It is necessary to prepare an appropriate disinfectant. Disinfecting tools prevents the transmission of diseases.
Blackberries are perennial shrubs that bear fruit on two-year shoots. This is of great importance, especially when performing pruning.
The best time to cut blackberries after planting is spring (March)Then trim the plants to a height of 30 cm above the ground. This will strengthen their root system, which will grow stronger and faster (the plant will not nourish the shoots then).
The first cut of the brambles yielding on two-year-old shoots is carried out in summerAfter the shoots are approx. 2.5 m long, we make the apex cut, which stimulates the blackberries to produce side shoots. the next year we will harvest the fruit.
At the beginning of the next growing season (spring),cutting the main shoot to a height of approx. 1.5 mand shortening the side shoots to 40 cm above earth. Trimming vegetative shoots will cause the entire growth of our blackberry to be directed to the production of fruiting shoots and buds. The treatment will allow you to enjoy abundant crops.
The next cuts of blackberries are made in the late summer after harvestingand they consist in removing all two-year and one-year-old shoots - if they are in excess. In this case, the pruning treatment is intended to prevent the plants from becoming too densely populated, thus reducing the risk of blackberry infestation by blackberry fungal diseases such as gray mold, and is a prophylactic measure to protect against blackberry pests, i.e.spider mites, spelers and flowers. It also affects the size of the crop.We also cut out the shoots growing out of the blackberry roots
Immediatelyafter cutting the blackberrieswe should put the remaining shoots on the ground and cover them with straw to protect them from temperature drops. Blackberries grown in our climatic conditions do not have full hardiness. Covering them for the winter is necessary because the thornless blackberry does not tolerate frosts badly and without protecting our shrub, we can lose the crops.
Important!Thornless blackberry bears fruit on last year's shoots, but if we have too many of them, the yield we get is poor quality. Therefore, in addition to cutting out old shoots, if necessary, we also cut out those that will soon bloom and bear fruit.
If you are unsure how to cut or simply afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School 2" ontrimming fruit trees and shrubs
This is the second part of the best-selling book "Cutting School", in which the authors Lucyna and Alicja Grabowskieexplained the secrets of cuttingornamental plants in a simple and clear way. The first book The School of Cutting for its simple language and clear, accurate drawings was loved by garden owners all over Poland.The book quickly became a bestseller- 20,000 copies sold! "
"Cutting School 2" will make youconfident in pruning fruit trees and shrubsand learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations and bear fruit abundantly. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!