Pruning blackcurrant bushes

I was recently advised to prune my currant bushes as i harvest my fruit. A lady recommended that if i pruned the bushes with the fruit on them then i would know which branches to prune and it would save me bending or stooping to hand pick the fruit. Is this the ideal method and is it ok to prune now??

Tags: blackcurrant, bushes, fruit, harvest, pruning

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on June 28, 2011 at 19:44

It is the way I do it - it saves a lot of backache.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Parker on June 28, 2011 at 19:46

Thanks Elaine... my first year with fruit trees and bushes.. exciting stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on June 28, 2011 at 21:36

Elaine's right about saving lots of backache. I use the same method then just sit back in a chair with a washing-up bowl on my lap and strip the fruit into there.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on June 28, 2011 at 23:43

Yes, it definitely saves on the bending and is good for the plants.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie on June 29, 2011 at 22:16

Well that is a revelation to me, so thanks all you clever people. Does it work with anything else?

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Permalink Reply by Rob Duffin on June 30, 2011 at 8:15

That's a great tip to know. Now if only I'd got to the blackcurrants before the birds...

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on June 30, 2011 at 22:50

Does it work with anything else?

Debbie, don't try it with gooseberries....the spikes are a beggar to get out of your fingers!!

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Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on July 1, 2011 at 10:59

You can take a few redcurrant branches out-upto a third, to let some light and air in if overcrowded, but they don't need hard pruning like blackcurrants.