David W. Lockwood Univ. of TN/Univ. of GA 2/19/13 Caneberry Pruning
Pruning & Training are distinctly different operations, however, they are used together to achieve the desired results
Trellising Cane support Increased sunlight exposure, air movement, spray penetration throughout the canopy Easier management Cleaner picking results in reduced attraction to picnic, sap, June and Japanese beetles *for trailing & semi-erect cultivars, trellising is necessary to keep the fruit off the ground
Trellis Systems I - Trellis T- Trellis Rotating Crossarm Trellis
Pruning making cuts on a plant to: Increase fruit yield & quality Contain size (width & density) of planting Facilitate better sun, wind & spray penetration throughout the canopy Reduce pest pressure Increase ease of management
Pruning to Aid in Disease Control Rosette (Double Blossom)
Caneblight on Blackberry
Tip Floricane Lateral Branches Primocane Crown Bud Crown Perennial Roots
Caneberry Fruiting Floricane-bearing 1 st year: Vegetative growth of cane 2 nd year: Flowering & fruiting Cane death (most varieties of blackberries, black & purple raspberries, some red & yellow raspberries) Primocane-bearing 1 st year: Bear fruit in upper ⅓ to ½ of cane in late summer & fall Fruiting portion of cane dies in fall 2 nd year: Lower portion of cane fruits Entire cane dies after fruiting
Floricanes Primocanes
Primocanes develops new shoots from basal buds of canes or from buds on roots in spring develops fruit buds in fall
Floricanes Bloom on short laterals Fruit Die
New Plantings Bare Root Root Section Tip Layer Tissue Cultured
Pomper et al. Erect & semierect varieties appear to be trailing during 1 st year
Tip Primocanes Remove Floricanes Pruning Promocane-Fruiting Caneberries (grown for multiple crops) Lateral Branching Summer Winter Floricanes bloom, Fruit & die Head Laterals. Remove laterals on lower 12 18 of canes. Remove excess Canes, thin rows
Floricane Removal Prune at soil level Promote bud break from below the soil surface If canes are not cut low enough, Fruiting laterals may form on any remaining cane portion Fruiting laterals are not healthy May be entry points for pests
Floricane Removal Timing: After harvest Lessens disease carryover Easier to work with primocanes Late fall to winter Possible carbohydrate movement from floricane to crown
Topping Primocanes of Blackberry Allow primocanes to exceed desired height by 4 6 Pinch or cut out 4 to 6 of primocanes to Stiffen primocane Induce lateral branching Do several times over the summer Different growth rates of primocanes Small cuts heal faster
Tipping Primocanes During Summer Increases Lateral Branching
Pruning Summer
Winter Pruning of Lateral Branches Late winter Prune healthy laterals back to 12 18 Remove laterals on lower 12 18 of canes
Pruning Winter
Dormant Pruning - Blackberries Narrow rows to ~ 12-18 at base Remove weak canes
Alternate Year Cropping Mow alternate halves of the field to the ground each winter Better primocane growth No competition between primocanes & floricanes Less interference of primocanes with floricanes during harvest
Alternate Year Cropping Increased primocane growth Heavier yields in floricane rows Easier management Reduced pruning costs Alternate row cropping increases air movement through planting Lessens pest carryover
Other Techniques Alternate year mowing with primocane suppression Removal of primocanes from row during fruiting year No floricane/primocane interference Primocane suppression without mowing Selective floricane thinning + Suppression or removal of primocanes when 6 8 inches tall
Primocane Suppression Advantages Increased fruit size & quality Increased production Reduced cane numbers Disadvantages Long-term reductions in stand vigor Expenses involved with primocane suppression or elimination Should not be done until planting is at least 3 years old Skip suppression every 3 rd to 4 th year
Primocane fruiting Blackberries Pomper et al
Primocane Fruiting Blackberries Initiate flower buds on terminal 1/3 to 1/2 of the primocane during 1st summer & fruit that fall Lower 1/2 to 2/3 portion of cane overwinters & produces a summer crop the 2nd year (also called everbearing or fall-fruiting) often grown for fall crop only
Advantages of Single Cropping System - Raspberry Cane thinning & detailed pruning & tying eliminated Cold injury of buds eliminate Winter damage from rabbits or voles eliminated Spur blight, anthracnose, cane blight & some other diseases & insects reduced Application of fertilizers, herbicides easier Can delay fruiting by mowing primocanes when ~ 1 ft. high
Primocane Fruiting Blackberries in the Southeast Primocane crop is not large enough in hot areas to warrant growing for fall crop only Pruning practices for multiple crops are similar to that of floricane-bearing varieties
Special Thanks To: M. Bolda, M. Gaskell, E. Mitchum, & M. Cahn. Caneberry Production Manual. Univ. of CA. Pb3525 Kathy Demchak. Pruning and Trellising Brambles. Penn State Univ. Gina Fernandez. Blackberry Pruning in North Carolina, CEFS 2012. Kirk Pomper. Kentucky State University. Marvin Pritts. Pruning Raspberries and Blackberries. NY Berry News, Vol. 8 (4), 2009.
Photo by Jim Kamas, Texas A&M