To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Pruning blueberries
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:23:30 -0400
"Several of my plants have 2 branches coming out of the soil--can I
prune
these back (about 8 inches) in hopes of having fuller bushes as opposed
to bushes that are only 2 long branches? The plants came this way and I
would really like to shape them up a bit."
My experience is primarily with rabbiteyes and some southern highbush
varieties.
Barbara, are your branches shoots coming out of the ground or lateral
branches?.
My blueberries initially put out a whip-like shoot that gets 4 feet or
so, then the shoot will develop laterals. I have never pruned these
shoots as they represent the vigorous new growth that I wish to preserve
for fruiting.