This is how the perfect pruning succeeds

When is the right time to cut?

There are two dates for pruning currants:

• Depending on the location from February to the beginning of April, even before the bushes have sprouted.
• With the summer pruning after the harvest, you create the conditions for a rich fruit yield in the next year.

The color of the fruit determines the cut

Black currants bear best on one-year-old wood, while red and white varieties on two to three-year-olds. What the fruit bushes have in common is that they should be cut from the first year.

Cut black currants

In total, the shrubs should consist of seven to ten strong main shoots that are not older than four years. Cut black currants therefore as follows:

• After planting, shorten the shoots to five pieces.
• Cut back further shoots after planting at ground level.
• Every year after the harvest, cut out the three oldest main shoots and leave the same number of bottom shoots.
• You can recognize older main branches by their dark bark.
• If you want particularly large berries, rigorously cut off all side shoots below knee height.

Overaged bushes can be shortened just above the ground as long as they have not yet sprouted in spring and rebuilt as described above.

Cut red currants

In total, these shrubs should consist of eight to twelve main shoots that are not older than four years. Red and white currants are cut as follows:

• With these, remove the three oldest main shoots directly above the ground every year after the harvest. A short stub must not be left standing.
• Leave the three strongest rods of the newly driven rods to replace them.
• The remaining new shoots are cut out.
• Shoots close to the ground and steeply rising shoots are also removed.
• Shorten side shoots that have borne fruit to a cone about one centimeter long. From these new fruit shoots sprout, which bear berries again in the summer after next at the latest.