Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
prune out some older wood and shorten back
the growth produced the previous spring just
to keep it tidy. This growth will produce the
next crop so don't be too severe. In frost-free
areas, prune after harvest or for frosty climes
in spring. Shake or gently pluck the berries
when they are fire-engine red and slightly
soft. Once established, the Gogi can be
pruned into old wood and it will resprout.
They respond well to coppicing (see page 84)
every six to seven years to rejuvenate the bush.
Figure 10.1
Blueberries flower and fruit from growth
formed the previous season.
Blueberry
Vaccinium
spp.
Blueberries are ornamental, delicious and
easy to manage; however, they are very fussy
when it comes to soil. Whether you grow the
deciduous highbush berries or the semi-
deciduous to evergreen tetraploid hybrids,
blueberries demand acid soil, the hybrids
being more tolerant of alkaline conditions.
Perfect drainage and constant soil moisture
are other requirements and if these
conditions can be fulfilled, they are the
perfect low-maintenance berry shrub.
Mulching with acidifying materials such as
oak leaves, pine needles or rhubarb leaves
will protect the surface root system.
Fruitingwood
Blueberries flower and fruit from growth that
was produced the previous year (see
Figure 10.1).
A strong new cane will fruit along its stem in
its second season, then bloom on side growths
for the next two years. After this time the
cane will be spent and should be pruned out.
Pruningtime
After harvest in late autumn is a good time
to assess the state of your bushes and prune
unwanted growth. Prune off the ends of
fruiting canes in spring to effectively thin
the harvest, so that larger berries are
produced. Masses of tiny berries make a
disappointing crop.
Blueberries are self-fertile but both the crops
and the berries will be larger when more than
one cultivar is grown. Named cultivars are
grown from cuttings so stems can be cut to
the ground and the new suckering growth
will still be of the desired cultivar.
Maintenance
The spent four-year-old stems should be
removed either down to the ground or to a
strong side growth to encourage new canes.
Old twiggy, droopy, crossed or crowded
Plant your blueberries and let them establish;
they need no pruning at planting, but the
flowers should be removed for the first two
years while the plant settles in.
