If you dream of a rich harvest of gooseberries, and not just modest handfuls of berries, spring pruning should become your annual ritual.
This procedure not only increases the number of fruits, but also makes them larger, sweeter and juicier.
How to turn a bush into a fruitful oasis? Let's figure it out.
When to grab the pruning shears? The main rule is to do it before the sap starts to flow. In the middle zone, this is the end of February - March, when the snow has already melted, but the buds are still dormant.
In the southern regions you can start earlier, in the northern regions - later, focusing on the temperature (optimally - from 0°C to +5°C).
Young bushes (1–3 years): forming the base
The goal of pruning is to create a strong “skeleton” of 4–5 main shoots.
Remove all weak, crooked and inward-growing branches. Shorten the remaining shoots by 1/3 to stimulate branching. Cut off the root suckers (sprouts near the ground) completely.
Mature bushes (4–7 years): balance of growth and fruiting
At this age, gooseberries actively bear fruit, but require control.
Remove 3-4 old branches annually (they are dark, with rough bark). Leave 5-7 strong shoots of different ages. Shorten the young growth by 1/4 so that the berries do not become smaller.
Old bushes (8+ years): radical rejuvenation
If the yield has dropped, carry out “reanimation”.
Cut off all shoots older than 5 years "to the ring" (at the base). Leave 3-4 young branches, even if they seem weak. If the bush is completely neglected, cut it off completely, leaving 15 cm above the ground. New shoots will grow in 2-3 years.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya